EXPOSED!! No Justice At NRM Tribunal, It’s Cash & Carry

NRM’s Election Tribunal, expected to handle party election disputes fairly, is now under fire for questionable practices that have cast doubt on its credibility. Critics point to rulings delivered in record time—sometimes in less than a day—without thorough investigations or hearings. Normally, an election decision takes at least seven days to allow for proper inquiry, but this fast-tracked approach has raised suspicions that justice is being sacrificed for political convenience. Many are asking: what determines which petitions are heard first? Is it merit, or simply “cash and carry”?

Adding to the controversy are allegations that tribunal panel members have accepted bribes in exchange for favorable judgments. Barata, Director of Legal Affairs at the NRM Secretariat, and Musiime, the Tribunal Chairman, have both been implicated in these claims. In some instances, rulings were reportedly reversed after money exchanged hands, fueling accusations of corruption and manipulation. Such inconsistencies have badly eroded public trust in the tribunal’s impartiality.

Another troubling issue is the lack of proper investigations. Key election officials, who could provide crucial testimony, were either not summoned or conveniently unavailable, yet their signatures appeared on official documents central to the rulings. This oversight has further damaged the tribunal’s credibility. To make matters worse, petitions tied to MPs aligned with Anita Among have been dismissed without clear explanation, leading to accusations of bias and favoritism.

The already tense political rivalry between Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and Speaker Anita Among has only heightened the situation. Observers note that one of Kadaga’s political aides has been seen repeatedly at the NRM Election Commission offices, where tribunal hearings are held. This has fueled speculation that Kadaga’s influence may be shaping outcomes, turning what should be an impartial process into a political battlefield.

As the contest for the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) intensifies, many party members are left questioning whether the tribunal can deliver true justice or if it has become just another tool for political elites to settle their scores.

In such a politically charged environment, the integrity of institutions like the NRM Election Tribunal is paramount. But with growing allegations of rushed justice, corruption, and interference, one question looms large: is the tribunal serving its mandate, or is it yet another casualty of Uganda’s long tradition of politicized decisions?