The National Resistance Movement (NRM) elections tribunal has received at least 381 parliamentary election petitions filed from across the country, following the recently concluded party primaries.
According to tribunal chairperson John Musiime, the petitions were submitted from various constituencies, reflecting both the intensity of competition and the growing public interest in internal party democracy.
Musiime said their mandate is to receive, hear, and resolve electoral grievances arising from the primaries in full compliance with the NRM Constitution, the 2025 Election Regulations, and the relevant national legal framework.
He emphasized that the tribunal remains committed to the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency throughout the process.
Nature of petitions
The petitions cover a wide range of electoral grievances, including allegations of vote rigging, multiple voting, obstruction or intimidation of polling agents, claims that ineligible individuals were allowed to contest, and procedural irregularities in both voting and tallying processes.
Musiime added that the high number of complaints highlights the need for greater internal accountability and continued reform of the NRM electoral systems.
Tribunal structure and process
To ensure efficient case handling, the tribunal has been divided into eight panels, each composed of experienced legal professionals and NRM cadres. Hearings will commence on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Musiime assured the public that every petition will be determined on its merit, and all parties whether petitioners or respondents will have an equal opportunity to present their evidence.
Under the 2025 Guidelines for Filing and Handling Election Petitions, each petitioner is required to serve a copy of their complaint to the respondent. In addition, the tribunal will also notify respondents through mainstream media, electronic communication and direct phone calls (where contacts were provided at nomination).
This multi-channel approach is designed to prevent delays and ensure fairness through timely communication. The tribunal aims to conclude all hearings and issue rulings by September 1, 2025.
Only five persons per party, including legal representatives, will be allowed to attend hearings in person. Written evidence may be submitted from an unlimited number of witnesses.
No parking will be available at the hearing venue; parties are advised to arrange alternative transportation. Hearing notices will clearly specify whether a case is scheduled for the morning or afternoon session.
Parties should appear only during their allotted time slot to prevent congestion. Musiime called on all candidates and supporters to respect the tribunal’s procedures, warning that any attempts to intimidate tribunal members or disrupt proceedings would not be tolerated.
Musiime urged all parties to trust the impartiality of the tribunal and use the opportunity to strengthen internal cohesion through lawful and respectful engagement.
NRM director of legal affairs, Enoch Barata, praised the tribunal as a critical tool for strengthening party democracy and accountability. On July 17, 2025, NRM party chairman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed John Musiime and 28 other lawyers to oversee the hearing of election petitions.
The move followed concerns that Dr Tanga Odoi, chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, who presided over the elections could not fairly preside over complaints against the very process he supervised.
380 internal (primaries) election petitions is the face of ‘our 84-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa, the shameless attention and self-seeker.
In other words, 39 years and counting of election rigging, bribery, violence and all the malpractices that go with it, demonstrate how CRIMINAL and BOGUS Gen Tibuhaburwa and his NRM leadership has been and will continue to be.
Otherwise what more do you Ugandans still NEED or WANT from Mr. M7 and the NRM bogus leadership.
After committing all the political and other crimes against Ugandans, over which he accused Obote and Amin (all RIP); if asked, what is Gen M7 and his NRM diehard members still resisting?
To save his face and soul, the best thing Dr. Odoi Tanga should just resign and go back to Tororo and raise goats and ducks.
In other words, let someone else take over from where he has stopped, and complete the process up to the end of the 2026 General Election. Otherwise, he has created more than enough of enemies, and after all Gen Tibuhaburwa has already publicly blamed him for the mess.
After all, his 10-year term of office as the NRA/M Electoral Commissioner, earned him a fortune which he could have only dreamt of, if he had remained a Senior Lecturer in the Dept of History, Makerere University; where professors are now-a-days humiliated and therefore fleeing (courtesy of Dr. Yusuf Sserunkuma) in order to avoid further humiliation by politically appointed riffraff, top administrators.
Remember, trying too hard produces unexpected results/outcome!
The outright electoral malpractices in the NRM is a true reflection of how the EC is also compromised by the same players in the NRM to deny Uganda free and fair elections.
That is why most of the Ganda tribes people do not go to vote in NRM national elections. It is unfortunate indeed that the Katikkiro of the Kingdom state of Buganda has accepted many in the Kingdom to continue to participate in such electoral malpractice that continue to put the ancient country of Buganda in peril! One believes that the subjects of the King of Buganda cannot be bluffed or deceived to the extent of not seeing the long time weakness of this long serving central government to properly govern this African country. Who exactly is likely to end up paying for the accumulated Uganda debts currently standing at over 107 trillion shillings and counting?
Will it be these nice NRM die hard Abataka babuganda who will stand up and be counted on their Ganda Butaka expensive propeties especially in the countryside of the Kingdom state of Buganda so that these African lands are taken over by the financiers of these Uganda massive debts. Every body saw them showing happiness to this long serving NRM chairman who does not want to retire like that MP of West Nile. One is doubtfull that even the Balalo can put up their expensive non tax payment cattle to be auctioned to pay some of the massive debts Uganda currently owes to the international and national funders of Uganda national debts!
Mr president museven should be vigilante on the officials he is using they are creating nup as they lead to the down fall of our might part NRM