The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Elections Disputes Tribunal has received 381 petitions from across Uganda, following the party’s recent parliamentary primaries. The announcement was made by the tribunal’s chairperson, John Musiime, during a press briefing on Friday at the party’s headquarters on Kyadondo Road in Kampala.
Musiime said the volume of petitions reflects the high level of competitiveness in the primaries and the strong interest in internal party democracy. He reaffirmed the tribunal’s commitment to resolving all disputes in accordance with the NRM Constitution, the 2025 Election Regulations, and national laws.
“The tribunal operates on the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency,” Musiime said, noting that the cases involve a wide array of electoral complaints, including vote rigging, multiple voting, obstruction of polling agents, and the participation of ineligible candidates.
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He added that procedural irregularities during voting and tallying processes were also common themes in the petitions, underlining the need for internal reforms and accountability within the party’s electoral system.
To manage the large caseload, the tribunal has been divided into eight panels, each consisting of experienced lawyers and NRM cadres. Hearings are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 29 July, starting at 9:00 AM.
Musiime emphasized that each petition will be judged on its own merit and that both petitioners and respondents will have equal opportunity to present their cases. He also clarified that, under the 2025 Guidelines for Filing and Handling Election Petitions, petitioners must serve a copy of the complaint to the respondent. To ensure timely communication, the tribunal will also notify respondents via mainstream media, electronic channels, and direct phone calls where possible.
The tribunal aims to complete all hearings and deliver decisions by 1 September 2025.
To maintain order, a maximum of five people per party—legal representatives included—will be allowed to attend hearings in person. While no parking will be provided at the venue, written submissions from additional witnesses will still be accepted.
Hearing notices will specify whether a case is scheduled for a morning or afternoon session, and parties have been instructed to appear only during their designated slots to avoid congestion.
Musiime urged candidates and supporters to cooperate with the tribunal and avoid behaviour that could disrupt proceedings or undermine party unity. He warned that any attempts to intimidate tribunal members would be met with firm action.
He was joined at the briefing by the NRM’s Director of Legal Affairs, Lawyer Enoch Barata, who described the tribunal as a key step in strengthening internal party democracy and promoting transparency.
The tribunal was established following the appointment of Musiime and 28 other lawyers by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the NRM party chairman, on 17 July 2025. President Museveni argued that it would be inappropriate for Dr. Tanga Odoi—the NRM Electoral Commission chair who oversaw the primaries—to preside over complaints related to the same process.
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