The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Election Disputes Tribunal entered its second day of intense hearings into complaints arising from the recent parliamentary primary elections, with a notable number of challenges targeting ministers who were declared flag bearers ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Among the most dramatic sessions was the petition filed by Wandera John Paul through lawyer Kamba Hassan, contesting the re-election of John Mulimba, State Minister for Regional Cooperation, as the NRM flag bearer for Samia Bugwe North.
Kamba described the election as being tainted by extreme violence and fraud, alleging the presence of “ghost villages,” inflated voter tallies, and voter intimidation through the deployment of soldiers and unidentified gangs. “The election was written in human blood,” he told the tribunal.
In response, Minister Mulimba dismissed the allegations, characterizing them as the emotional reaction of a defeated opponent. “They go through stages—denial, bargaining, then acceptance. This is part of that process,” he said confidently.
In Serere District, Fisheries State Minister Hellen Adoa also found herself defending her candidacy after a petition from Lucy Acom Esther, who accused her of unjustly usurping victory.
Acom urged the tribunal to scrutinize her evidence, while Minister Adoa countered that the claims dated back to the 2015 primaries and were irrelevant to the current process.
A similar case emerged in Lamwo District, where Geoffrey Odongkara Obalim accused Hillary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, of colluding with police and engaging in voter register manipulation in Palabek County.
While Onek had initially arrived at the tribunal in good spirits, he left visibly unsettled and offered no comment.
Another petition came from Mutagaya Denis against Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, who was declared the NRM flag bearer for Budiope West with an overwhelming 99,832 votes—accounting for 80.2 percent of the total.
Mutagaya, who garnered only 12,940 votes, claimed the election was riddled with irregularities. The tribunal has asked both parties to submit further documentation before the deadline.
In Buikwe District, Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa, spent the day at the tribunal waiting for her challenger, Harriet Nankabirwa, who had not appeared by late afternoon.
Mutasingwa, who was accompanied by her father and a group of supporters, criticized the no-show as a waste of time and reaffirmed her confidence in her 93 percent win. She said any alleged anomalies were too insignificant to alter the result.
Security Minister Major General Jim Muhwezi also took the stand, asserting that his re-election campaign in Rujumbura County, Rukungiri District, was devoid of any electoral malpractice.
He emphasized his long service and commitment to party values, citing his positions as NRM Central Executive Committee member, district party chairperson, and Army Council member. His opponent, Frank Arinaitwe—who lost by over 4,000 votes—maintains the race was unfairly conducted.
Elsewhere, Bunya County MP Hajji Iddi Isabirye defended his victory margin of over 10,000 votes, dismissing allegations of voter intimidation as inconsistent with such a decisive win.
Meanwhile, Sheema Municipality MP Dicksons Kateshumbwa, accused of voter bribery by Joseph Mukasa, proposed a structural reform within the party’s petition system.
He suggested requiring petitioners to place a refundable monetary bond to discourage frivolous cases. Kateshumbwa expressed frustration over having to miss parliamentary business to defend what he called a merit-based victory.
The tribunal, led by lawyer John Musiime and split into eight panels, continues to hear petitions in a tented venue. The hearings are scheduled to run throughout the week, with dozens more disputes pending.
The tribunal’s goal is to ensure the final list of party flag bearers genuinely reflects the choice of NRM members, in line with the directive of party chairperson, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
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