Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba Takes NRM Electoral Commission to Task Over Alleged Workers’ League Election Irregularities

Elections are supposed to reflect fairness, transparency, and democracy—but these values are being questioned within Uganda’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba has filed a formal petition challenging the NRM Electoral Commission and his rival, Walela Martin, citing alleged irregularities that have stirred debates about justice and electoral integrity.

Mudiba, a unionist and workers’ leader, was nominated to contest the position of Vice Chairperson of the Eastern Region Workers’ League. He alleges that Walela Martin was irregularly nominated and declared the winner under questionable circumstances. Central to the petition is a constitutional concern: Walela was reportedly still a civil servant in Mbale District Local Government, serving as Parish Chief under Supplier No. 113475. Article 80(4) of Uganda’s Constitution requires civil servants to resign before contesting elections—a requirement Mudiba says the Electoral Commission ignored.

To strengthen his case, Mudiba points to a previous instance where civil servant Madina Kiwanuka Nsegumire was disqualified after a complaint. He argues that while rules were enforced in that case, they were overlooked in his, indicating selective application and discrimination.

Beyond nomination issues, Mudiba alleges multiple election irregularities. He claims that the voters’ register was manipulated, delegates were misled, and, at one point, the lights were deliberately switched off, creating confusion. He asserts that his opponent’s supporters exploited the darkness to divert voters while officials dismissed his complaints, suggesting deliberate attempts to undermine his candidacy.

Mudiba also raises concerns about inconsistencies in the voting process. National Workers’ leaders were not elected by districts or sub-regions, unlike Workers’ MPs’ flag bearers, creating opportunities for manipulation and disadvantaging certain candidates.

In his petition, Mudiba seeks more than personal redress. He calls for annulment of the election and the conduct of fresh elections in accordance with the Constitution and NRM guidelines. He even requests to be declared unopposed, arguing that once the irregularities are addressed, he is the rightful candidate.

This petition highlights broader questions about internal democracy within the ruling party. If rules can be bent or ignored depending on the candidate, what does that mean for fairness and accountability? If workers’ voices are compromised in internal elections, how meaningful is their representation nationally?

Mudiba concludes by emphasizing his commitment to democratic values, transparency, and justice. Regardless of the tribunal’s ruling, his case has already exposed significant flaws in Uganda’s political processes.

Ultimately, this is more than one individual’s political ambition—it underscores the ongoing struggle for fairness, integrity, and proper representation in Uganda’s electoral system, a matter of concern for workers and democracy advocates alike.