Chaos, Petitions and Verdicts: NRM Tribunal Begins Sifting Through 2025 Primary Fallout

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is grappling with the aftermath of its chaotic July 17 parliamentary and LC5 primaries, which sparked a flood of petitions and allegations of electoral malpractice.

Figures from the party’s Electoral Commission show that at least 420 petitions were filed by parliamentary contenders, while another 178 petitions came from Local Council 5 aspirants. Many petitioners accuse registrars and other election officials of tampering with results, prematurely issuing declaration forms, or altering tallies outright.

Over 1,000 Registrars in the Crosshairs

NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi has announced that more than 1,000 registrars, nearly three-quarters of those deployed, could be dismissed over their role in the chaos. He said those implicated through tribunal findings will be handed over to the party’s legal team for possible criminal prosecution.

President Yoweri Museveni also weighed in, questioning how results could be altered when “everyone saw them,” and warning that only the party tribunal has the mandate to correct election errors.

First Verdicts Delivered

In a bid to restore order, the NRM Elections Dispute Tribunal has begun delivering judgments. Forty-six rulings have so far been issued in the first batch, chaired by Counsel John Musiime and facilitated by the party’s Director of Legal Services, Enoch Barata.

Electronic copies of verdicts are being sent to petitioners where emails were provided, while hard copies can be collected at the tribunal registry on Kyadondo Road in Kampala. Among the rulings already made public is the tribunal’s decision to uphold the victory of Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde in his parliamentary race.

A Mountain Yet to Climb

With more than 598 petitions still in play, the tribunal faces a long road ahead in untangling disputes from nearly every corner of the country. The petitions and the disciplinary wave against registrars mark one of the largest internal election audits in the party’s history.

Analysts say the process will test the NRM’s ability to maintain internal cohesion ahead of the 2026 general elections, and may set a precedent for how parties handle post-primary disputes in Uganda’s political landscape.