The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Elections Dispute Tribunal has ruled in favour of Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama, upholding her victory as the party’s flag bearer for the Rakai District Woman Member of Parliament seat.
The tribunal, chaired by John Musiime, dismissed a petition by Asha Lubyayi Kayanja, who sought to overturn the July 17th primary election results, accusing the incumbent of outright vote rigging.
Lubyayi alleged that the election process was marred by gross irregularities and acts of violence.
She claimed that Kinyamatama colluded with various sub-county election registrars to alter vote tallies and deployed gangs to polling stations, where they allegedly assaulted voters.
According to Robert Ssesanga, the NRM Election Registrar for Rakai District, Kinyamatama secured the party flag with 44,556 votes, defeating Lubyayi, who polled 32,174 votes.
Robina Kamazinga came third with 3,223 votes.
In her petition, Lubyayi further alleged that at some polling stations, no voting took place, and election officials were bribed or coerced into filling declaration forms in favour of the incumbent.
The petition was lodged against the backdrop of strong criticism from retired Major General Elli Kayanja, the petitioner’s elder brother, who openly questioned the credibility of the Rakai primaries.
Gen. Kayanja accused the party’s Electoral Commission and security agencies in the district of turning a blind eye to irregularities that favoured Kinyamatama.
He alleged that several vehicles were used to transport gangs who beat up voters during election day.
In a viral recorded video, Gen. Kayanja drew a historical parallel, likening the Rakai primaries to the infamous 1980 election rigging incident, which triggered the guerrilla war that eventually toppled Milton Obote’s government.
“We paid a heavy price, including risking our lives to bring democracy in the country, but what we are witnessing now is not what we fought for. We cannot accept this happening,” he stated.
He also demanded that local security personnel, alongside election officials, be held accountable for enabling the alleged malpractice.
Despite the public outcry and threats of further action, the NRM Elections Dispute Tribunal ruled that the allegations lacked sufficient evidence.
“Having failed to prove the allegations to the required standard, the petitioner is not entitled to the relief sought. The tribunal finds no sufficient basis to set aside the election or to order for fresh poll,” the ruling reads in part.
The decision formally confirmed Kinyamatama as the party’s flag bearer for the Rakai District Woman MP seat in the forthcoming general elections.
