The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Legal Tribunal has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing handling of petitions from the party’s primary elections, with over 120 petitions processed and at least 15 voluntarily withdrawn by petitioners as the hearings enter their second day.
Counsel Enoch Barata, the NRM’s Director of Legal Services, announced these developments during a press briefing at the NRM Tribunal headquarters located at Plot 30, Kyadondo Road in Nakasero. He revealed that the petition review process is progressing smoothly and efficiently.
“We are experiencing a seamless flow of activities here. As of today, 120 petitions have been concluded. We’ve streamlined and merged similar cases to save time allocated for the petition review,” Barata stated.
He also noted a positive development in the number of petition withdrawals, interpreting it as an indicator of confidence in the internal electoral process.
“We’ve seen around 15 petitions withdrawn voluntarily, which is a positive sign—demonstrating that candidates acknowledge the electoral process as transparent and credible,” he added.
Barata further explained that the tribunal aims to deliver rulings on petitions involving parliamentary aspirants within a standard period of seven days from the date of hearing.
“Ordinarily, judgments are delivered within seven days unless the tribunal determines the need for more time, as the rules permit such an extension. But the standard timeline remains seven days from the date the hearing is conducted,” he clarified.
He used the opportunity to issue a strong warning to both petitioners and respondents against falling prey to fraudulent individuals claiming to have influence over the tribunal’s decision-making.
Barata emphasized that no external channels or informal methods could sway outcomes and that all proceedings are strictly managed by the designated tribunal panels within the official NRM Tribunal premises.
He reiterated that adherence to due process is essential and urged party members to refrain from attempting to bypass legal procedures through dishonest means.
