NRM tribunal upholds Akugizibwe’s victory in Buruli County
He also noted that, since the petition was filed jointly, the petitioners would soon meet to make a formal decision regarding their participation in the 2026 general elections.
Masindi: Masindi: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party elections tribunal has upheld the victory of Hon. Akugizibwe Aled Ronald as the duly elected NRM party flag bearer for Buruli County, following a ruling delivered on Wednesday.
The ruling followed a petition filed by rival candidates who challenged the results of the NRM primary elections held on July 17, 2025. In those primaries, Hon. Akugizibwe secured 9,147 votes, defeating Mugisa Julius who garnered 4,140 votes, Mwetegya Zacheus got 3,687 votes followed by Kabindi Steven with 2,840 votes and Ongei Patrick came last with 526 votes.
Following the results, Masindi District NRM Registrar, Mr. Moses Ogwang, officially declared Hon. Akugizibwe as the duly elected party flag bearer for Buruli County.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome, the above four contestants filed a petition before the NRM tribunal, alleging multiple irregularities during the voting and tallying process.
Among the issues raised were use of different ink pens and handwriting on Declaration Forms, unsigned declaration forms by presiding officers, blank declaration forms allegedly signed and later filled in without agents’ knowledge, alteration of vote figures and falsification of results, obstruction of agents from performing their duties and withholding of Declaration Forms by village registrars.
The petitioners asked the tribunal to nullify the election results and order fresh, well-organized primaries.
In its judgment, a copy of which was seen by UG Reports, the tribunal noted that no incident of non-compliance was recorded on the official Declaration Forms. Regarding alleged alterations, the tribunal observed that inconsistencies likely occurred during vote tallying and were not directly attributable to any candidate.
Consequently, the tribunal dismissed the petition and upheld Hon. Akugizibwe’s victory.
Speaking after the ruling, Akugizibwe expressed gratitude to his supporters and called for unity in the upcoming general elections.
“People have been asking me about the tribunal, and today the ruling has been delivered. I’m happy the petition was dismissed. I call upon the people of Masindi to remain united and support me in the general elections,” he said.
Mugisa Julius, who came second in the primaries, congratulated his opponent and acknowledged the purpose of the petition was alert the party on the irregularities during the primary elections so that they can be rectified during the future elections.
“I congratulate him for winning the flag; we could not all win it. We petitioned for the party to address some issues ahead of the forthcoming elections not because we all wanted the flag,” he said. He also noted that, since the petition was filed jointly, the petitioners would soon meet to make a formal decision regarding their participation in the 2026 general elections.
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