By KT Reporter
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Election Disputes Tribunal has reinstated Wembabazi Beatrice as the rightful flag bearer for the Hoima District Woman Member of Parliament seat in the 2026 general elections.
In its decision, the Tribunal, chaired by lawyer John Musiime, nullified the disputed declaration of incumbent MP Harriet Busingye. That declaration had been issued by the Hoima District Election Officer following what the Tribunal found to be an improper reversal of an earlier, legally binding announcement in favour of Wembabazi.
The dispute arose from the NRM primaries held on July 17, 2025. Wembabazi was initially declared the winner by Hoima District Registrar Joseph Kutegeka after tallying results from across the district. However, confusion ensued when Kutegeka later issued a second, contradictory declaration in favour of Harriet Busingye. Wembabazi responded by filing three separate petitions challenging the turn of events. Although she later withdrew the petitions after the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, reinstated her initial victory, Busingye’s legal team contested that decision, arguing the Commission no longer had the authority to alter the outcome once a final declaration had been made. During the Tribunal hearing, Wembabazi represented herself, while Busingye was represented by counsel Stephen Galabuzi. The respondent, Harriet Busingye, was absent. Galabuzi argued that since the second declaration had been forwarded to NRM headquarters, the District Election Officer was functus officio—legally unable to revise the result. However, the Tribunal rejected this argument. In its ruling, it emphasized that the central legal issue was not whether the Electoral Commission could reverse a declaration, but which of the two declarations was lawful in the first place. The Tribunal concluded that the first declaration—naming Wembabazi as the winner—was the legitimate and binding one. Citing Regulation 18 of the NRM Election Regulations, which gives the Electoral Commission Chairperson authority to intervene in cases of error or exigency, the Tribunal found that Dr. Tanga Odoi acted within his powers when he countermanded the second declaration and upheld Wembabazi’s original win. The Tribunal further noted that a petitioner cannot sustain a case challenging a result that ultimately favoured them. Speaking to our reporter, NRM Legal Director Enoch Barata said: “What the tribunal ruled is that the first declaration in favour of Beatrice Wembabazi was the lawful and binding one. The second announcement—the one declaring Harriet Busingye—was invalid.”
He added that this was not a case of nullifying someone’s rightful victory but of reinstating the only valid declaration issued in the first place. Barata called on party members to respect the ruling and uphold the democratic values of the NRM.
Following the ruling, the Tribunal ordered the withdrawal of all three petitions and officially declared Beatrice Wembabazi as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Hoima District Woman Member of Parliament in the upcoming general elections.
The ruling was signed by Tribunal Chairperson John Musiime and members Joseph Ogwang and Tendo Lubwama, and was issued from Kampala.
About two weeks ago, Kutegeka was arrested at the NRM headquarters in Kyadondo, Kampala, where he had been summoned by the party’s top leadership to respond to complaints over allegations of electoral misconduct during the primaries.
He was accused of announcing two different winners for each of the parliamentary seats—Hoima Woman MP and Bugahya County MP—sparking confusion and protests from candidates and their supporters-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
