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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Resistance Movement (NRM) elections tribunal has concluded the hearing of petitions of Members of Parliament arising from the July 17th party primaries.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Tuesday, the NRM Director for Legal Affairs Counsel Enoch Barata, confirmed that the tribunal will begin delivering rulings this evening.
He said that, to expedite communication and reduce delays, the tribunal will primarily rely on electronic means to issue its decisions to the concerned parties.
“All rulings, as much as possible, will be delivered electronically through emails and WhatsApp contacts provided by the petitioners and respondents during the filing process,” Barata explained. “However, this does not preclude the issuance of physical rulings where necessary.”
The tribunal headed by Lawyer John Musiime, which has been handling up to 56 petitions per day, wrapped up the final hearings related to the July 17th elections today.
According to Barata, a few outstanding petitions (around five) were adjourned due to personal circumstances affecting the parties involved, including cases of bereavement.
Barata has indicated that following today’s session, the tribunal members will “retreat” to their respective workstations to write and finalise rulings. Barata clarified that this retreat is not a formal seclusion but rather a return to focused work, as has been the practice each evening after hearings.
“They will just get back to their workstations and continue writing and delivering the rulings,” Barata said.
He noted that the first batch of rulings is expected to largely consist of cases heard on Tuesday, although the actual number will depend on which rulings are ready for dispatch. The tribunal chairperson is scheduled to provide an official update and progress report tomorrow, Wednesday, at 11:00 AM. This update, Barata noted, will include details on how many rulings have been finalised and which ones have been delivered.
In the next phase of its operations, the tribunal will begin handling petitions related to the second batch of elections, which took place on July 24th. These elections were for Local Council (LC5) chairpersons, mayors, and councillors.
Hearings for these petitions are set to begin on Friday, with a more detailed schedule to be announced on Wednesday.
Barata did not comment on the cost implications of the ongoing tribunal work, noting that it is a function under the party’s broader internal processes.
Meanwhile, among those who appeared before the tribunal was Harriet Tibulihwa Ssali, who did not have a formal petition but rather intended to urge the tribunal to create avenues for conducting fresh elections in Kakumiro District.
She accused the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, who is also the incumbent Woman Member of Parliament for the district, of engaging in election violence and vote bribery.
The Prime Minister, who was represented by her lawyer, Hassan Kamba, dismissed Tibulihwa’s submission as baseless, and the tribunal did not give it any consideration.
Similarly, the State Minister for Lands, Persis Namuganza, also appeared before the tribunal alongside Betty Nakisita, who had contested against Mariam Naigaga, the incumbent Woman MP for Namutumba District.
Namuganza expressed her opposition to the declaration of Emmanuel Maganda Katooko as the duly elected MP for Bukono County in Namutumba District.
She further explained that campaign posters had already emerged in her constituency, indicating her intention to run as an independent candidate.
However, her opponent, Emmanuel Maganda Katooko, declined to speak to the media after appearing before the tribunal.
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