A widening investigation into alleged electoral malpractice during the NRM parliamentary primaries has led to the remand of three senior party electoral officials from Kamuli and Buyende districts.
The suspects—Baliruno David, who serves as the NRM Party Administrator; Matovu Vincent, the party’s registrar for Buyende District; and Gwambuga Godfrey, the registrar for Kamuli—appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court this week to face serious charges related to election fraud.
Baliruno and Matovu are accused of forgery and uttering false documents, while Gwambuga faces additional charges of falsifying tally registers and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Following their court appearance, the magistrate ordered that Baliruno and Matovu be remanded to Buyende Prison, while Gwambuga was sent to Kamuli Prison.
The three are expected to return to court on July 28, 2025, for further proceedings as the legal process unfolds.
Their arrests stem from increasing reports of vote manipulation during the recently concluded NRM MP flagbearer primaries, where some candidates allegedly benefitted from altered vote tallies originating from specific sub-counties.
Preliminary investigations suggest the trio may have been instrumental in orchestrating the fraudulent activities to ensure the success of predetermined aspirants.
ASP Micheal Kasadha, the Regional Police Spokesperson for Busoga North, confirmed the charges and emphasized that a deeper investigation is underway to expose the full scope of the alleged scheme.
“These arrests are part of a broader crackdown on electoral malpractice during the NRM primaries. The accused are believed to have altered tally sheets and submitted falsified results,” said ASP Kasadha.
The arrests come at a time when the NRM Electoral Commission is facing growing criticism from party members and the general public over the integrity of its internal election processes.
The party’s top leadership has acknowledged the irregularities, with President Yoweri Museveni recently directing that investigations be conducted into the alleged fraud.
President Museveni also hinted at the establishment of a special tribunal to deal with cases stemming from the disputed primaries and to reinforce transparency and accountability within party structures.
As scrutiny of the NRM’s electoral conduct deepens, observers view the ongoing legal proceedings as a test of the party’s commitment to restoring faith in its democratic processes.
