In the wake of widespread allegations of irregularities during the recently held party primaries, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has launched a structured legal process aimed at resolving more than 380 electoral complaints.
On July 25, 2025, while addressing journalists at Plot 31, Kololo, the NRM Director of Legal Services, Counsel Enoch Barata, confirmed that the party has officially received a total of 381 petitions linked to the ongoing and concluded primaries.
“People are bringing in their petitions. As of now, over 381 petitions have been filed,” Barata stated.
He emphasized that the NRM remains firmly committed to ensuring transparency, justice, and fairness in its internal electoral processes.
Barata announced that the party’s Elections Disputes Tribunal is scheduled to begin its work on July 29 and will continue hearings through to September 1.
The tribunal is chaired by prominent lawyer John Musime, who will oversee a legal structure composed of eight panels.
Each panel is made up of three legal professionals and will handle approximately 56 petitions daily.
The panels have been tasked with receiving, hearing, and resolving complaints from party members who feel aggrieved by the outcomes of the primaries.
A significant portion of the disputes stem from the parliamentary primaries conducted on July 17.
Petitioners cite numerous electoral malpractices, including multiple voting and incidents of underage individuals participating in the elections.
While the tribunal is focused on resolving civil electoral grievances within the party, Counsel Musime made it clear that any criminal violations discovered during the hearings will be forwarded to law enforcement authorities.
“We are only handling civil matters. Where there are criminal implications, we will forward such cases to the police or other relevant authorities,” Musime noted.
To maintain order and efficiency during the sessions, the tribunal has put a cap on representation.
Each party in a dispute — complainant or respondent — will be allowed a maximum of five representatives, including legal counsel where necessary.
Despite these measures, some NRM candidates remain skeptical about the tribunal’s ability to deliver genuine justice.
There are growing concerns among a section of the party membership that failure to resolve the disputes credibly could push some aggrieved candidates to contest as independents in the 2026 general elections or, in some cases, completely disengage from the party.
As the hearings draw near, the pressure is now on the NRM legal apparatus to prove its commitment to internal democracy and restore confidence among its supporters.
