By Eye Media Reporter|Kampala
A storm is brewing in Kamuli District as more than 500 members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) structures have signed a petition seeking the nullification of the party’s district elections held on May 23, 2025, citing widespread electoral fraud, mismanagement, and manipulation.
The 13-page petition, led by Mugoowa David Constant—a contestant for the position of NRM District Chairperson — is addressed to Dr. Tanga Odoi, the Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission.
The petition outlines what petitioners describe as “illegal, unlawful, fraudulent, and shameful” conduct during the electoral exercise.
Mugoowa, a resident of Kavule “A” in Namasagali Sub-county, claims that the lining-up voting process was infiltrated by ineligible individuals who crossed boundary strings and unlawfully supported a candidate, Mr. Bazanya Mathew.
“This influx overwhelmed legitimate voters, compromising the credibility of the election and denying members their right to choose leaders freely,” the petition states.
According to the document, the electoral process was marred by chaos, manipulation, and bias by the returning officers, with security personnel accused of standing by as the irregularities unfolded.
“The police presence was either insufficient or biased, with officers failing to prevent or respond to fraudulent activities,” it adds.
Even more disturbing, the petitioners reveal that the final tally for some positions included votes for candidates who had withdrawn from the race.
For instance, Mr. Waiswa Julius and Mr. Pius Mugweri, both of whom had pulled out before the polls, were still declared to have received 74 and 33 votes respectively in the race for General Secretary—raising eyebrows about vote tampering.
Additionally, while only two candidates contested in certain races, results were announced for four individuals, and the number of votes declared reportedly exceeded the total eligible Electoral College of 833 members.
“This is not just a question of mismanagement—it’s an outright assault on democracy and transparency within our party,” Mugoowa told Eye Media.
The petition seen by The Eye Media makes two key demands:
- That the results of the May 23rd election in Kamuli District be declared null and void.
- That a re-run be conducted under stricter supervision, with improved security and transparency measures.
It has been endorsed by hundreds of NRM delegates from across Kamuli, including village, parish, subcounty, and district-level leaders who appended their signatures, national identification numbers (NINs), and contact details.
The NRM Electoral Commission is yet to issue an official response, but pressure is mounting on party leadership to address the matter before it threatens to erode internal unity ahead of the 2026 general elections.
