By Nakire Caroline
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Election Disputes Tribunal has nullified the victories of four parliamentary flag bearers and ordered fresh elections in three constituencies, following weeks of hearings into petitions of malpractice during the July 17, 2025 primaries.
In Rwampara District, the Tribunal overturned the victory of incumbent woman MP Molly Asiimwe and declared Anna Kansiime as the rightful NRM flag bearer. Evidence showed that Kansiime won by a margin of 7,299 votes but Asiimwe had falsified the results.
Delivering rulings on Sunday, Tribunal Chairperson, John Musiime, announced that fresh elections would take place in Ntungamo Municipality – at seven polling stations where no voting occurred on July 17, disenfranchising nearly 10,000 voters, Buyende District (Woman MP seat) – in 56 polling stations where irregularities were reported and Namayingo South Constituency – in four polling stations where no elections were held, affecting 1,924 registered voters.
As a result, earlier declarations of flag bearers in these constituencies have been annulled, and new representatives will be confirmed after the fresh polls.
For Ntungamo Municipality, this nullifies Yona Musinguzi’s victory, which had been contested by four petitioners citing vote rigging, voter obstruction, and bribery.
The Tribunal ruled that only the seven polling stations where irregularities occurred required fresh elections, noting that the 9,966 disenfranchised voters significantly outweighed Musinguzi’s 3,405-vote margin.
In Buyende, petitioner Achom Robina Kaima successfully challenged the victory of Sarah Namulondo, pointing to the use of exercise books instead of official declaration forms, missing elections in several stations, and interference by political and security actors. Namulondo’s victory was nullified, and fresh polls were ordered.
In Namayingo South, petitioners Ouma Willy and Barasa Moses argued that no elections were held in four villages. Given the slim margin of 301 votes between the winner and runner-up, the Tribunal ruled that the disenfranchisement of 1,924 voters was substantial enough to affect the outcome, thereby annulling the results.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal upheld the victories of Minister Milly Babalanda (Budiope West), Eng. Moses Magogo (Budiope East), and Charity Kamuhanda Kibaaju, while dismissing a petition against Annet Nabirye, the Woman MP for Luuka District.
The rulings were delivered by a panel of lawyers led by Musiime, alongside Anthony Bazira, Patrick Rutembana, Joseph Ogwang, Tendo Lubwama, Isaac Okurut, Joseph Lobalang, Ronald Tusingwire, and Nelson Kamuhanda.
Several petitions remain pending, including those from Lwemiyaga Constituency, Rwampara East, Terego East, and Kampala District Woman MP, with LC5 petitions expected to be ruled upon in the coming days