High-Stakes Showdown in Mbale: Hudu Hussein Petitions NRM Tribunal Over Disputed Primary Loss
Mbale City – A fierce political and legal battle is unfolding within Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) as former Resident City Commissioner Hudu Hussein challenges the outcome of the party’s primary elections in Mbale City’s Northern Division, alleging widespread vote fraud, voter intimidation, and electoral violence.
The dispute, now before the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal, pits Hussein against declared winner Umar Nangoli, who edged him out by a narrow margin of 591 votes in the July 17 primary. Hussein, through Origo Advocates, has petitioned the tribunal to annul the results, citing what he calls “systematic and violent manipulation” of the vote.
The case has quickly become one of the most closely watched of the 381 petitions filed after the primaries, exposing deepening rifts within the NRM and raising questions about the credibility of its internal democratic processes ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Accusations of Electoral Malpractice
In court documents, Hussein accuses Nangoli’s campaign team and local NRM electoral officials of orchestrating fraud at two polling stations—Kinyoli A and Kinyoli B—where he alleges polling was marred by open campaigning, physical intimidation of voters, and falsified vote tallies.
At Kinyoli A, Hussein claims his supporters were violently dispersed, polling was halted, and 500 votes were falsely assigned to Nangoli, while he was awarded none—despite 525 votes reportedly cast. At Kinyoli B, he alleges results were compiled secretly, giving Nangoli 661 votes and just 42 to him.
To support his claims, Hussein submitted a sworn affidavit and a flash drive containing video and audio evidence of the alleged electoral misconduct.
Nangoli Hits Back
But Nangoli, represented by Shoebill Advocates, has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and unfounded. In a counter-affidavit, he defends the primary process as “free, fair, and transparent,” asserting that Hussein’s claims are intended to undermine a legitimate outcome.
He further accuses Hussein and one of his polling agents, Mahoota LC1 chairperson Jonathan Malunda, of inciting violence, referencing a police report in which Malunda allegedly assaulted a Nangoli agent.
Supporting Nangoli’s defense is village registrar Isaac Were, who submitted an affidavit stating that the vote at Kinyoli B was counted publicly, with voters lining up behind their candidates in accordance with local custom. According to Were, the final tally gave Nangoli 500 votes, while Hussein received none.
“The people of Northern Division spoke clearly and decisively,” Nangoli said in a statement.
Tribunal Under Scrutiny
The tribunal, led by lawyer John Musiime, is scheduled to hear the case on August 1, 2025. With growing scrutiny on how the NRM handles internal disputes, the ruling could set a significant precedent for the party’s credibility and unity heading into the 2026 elections.
Political analysts warn that the outcome may either quell or fuel tensions in the eastern Uganda stronghold, where competition for party nominations has grown increasingly volatile.
More Primaries Ahead
Meanwhile, the NRM is preparing for its next round of internal polls. NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi has unveiled the timetable for the Local Government primaries, urging candidates to run peaceful, issue-driven campaigns.
Nomination forms will be issued from July 28 to August 4, with submissions due between August 5 and 9. Campaigns will run from August 10 to 13, ahead of voting on August 14 and 16.
Dr. Odoi cautioned that the party will not tolerate violence, calling on candidates to respect the will of the people.
“We must learn from the July experience. The integrity of our internal elections is at stake,” he said.
