The National Resistance Movement Election Disputes Tribunal has ordered the Party’s Electoral Commission to declare the final results for the Member of Parliament for Ruhaama Main Constituency within two days from today.
According to the Tribunal decision in a Panel headed by Lawyer Anthony Bazira and with Isaac Okurut and Joseph Lobalang as members , the announcement and declaration shall be done by an election officer other than the current District Registrar of Ruhaama County Main Constituency.
The Order arises from two petitions filed by Former MP Beatrice Rwakimari and Lawyer Richard Barungi who participated in the July 17th 2025 party primaries and petitioned the Tribunal over provisional results that placed the incumbent MP Hon Henry Zinkuratire in the lead.
According to the provisional results, the NRM District Elections Officer, Maria B. Mirembe, announced provisional results with Rwakirimari Beatrice scoring 13,845 votes, Richard Barungi 13,139 votes, Nkwasiibwe Henry 15,601 votes, Abesigamukama Bruno-145 votes, Mpeirwe Nobles – 190 votes, Abasa Jackson 315 votes, Nimwesiga Rutaro David 308 votes and Tushabe Agnes with 1,086 votes.
The Declaration of results form bore the words, “Provisional Results.”
As a result, the petitioners through their lawyers including Jude Byamukama who represented Rwakimari and Barungi who represented himself told the Tribunal that NRM District Registrar had violated several electoral guidelines.
Among others the Petitioners stated that, there was intimidation and harassment, that no election took place in the 13 villages, wrong addition of votes, alteration of votes, and lastly, that provisional results not provided for in the NRM Election Regulations, 2025.
But Zinkuratire through his lawyers led by Edgar Ayebazibwe denied the allegations contending that he was validly elected and that there was no evidence to back up the same.
However, in its ruling, the Tribunal has found that the petitions were prematurely brought because the Commission had not yet announced the final results.
The Tribunal has indicated that whereas the NRM primary elections for Members of Parliament took place on 17th July, 2025, the NRM Electoral Commission did not declare the winner but instead, gave provisional wherein, Rwakimari Beatrice got 13,845 votes, Nkwasiibwe Henry -15,601 votes, and Barungi Richard – 13,139 votes.
That the District Registrar, Maria B. Mirembe, issued provisional results based on the fact that there were missing results from the 14 polling stations i.e Nyamiko, Kyondo, Rugoma, Nyakagando, Nyakazinga, Kyarubare, Nyakahita, Kangarame, Akashansha, Itojo Trading Centre, Mutujo central, Rwenanura 1, Koonyo and Kagyemu village polling stations.
” There have been several failed attempts to have a re-tally of the votes witnessed by all parties that participated in the election. It was submitted that all parties were summoned by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman to witness the re-tallying of votes but some of them abandoned the exercise mid-way. Only Rwakimari Beatrice continued with the meeting. That it was therefore, resolved by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, that results would be announced on Monday, 4th August, 2025 and the winner declared”, said the Tribunal.
However, by the time of writing this decisions, the Tribunal States that the NRM Electoral Commission had not yet declared the winner.
“It can therefore, be deduced from the above, that by the time of hearing this petition, the electoral process was not complete as the NRM District Registrar was yet to announce and declare the winner as per Regulation 41 (vi) of the National Resistance Movement.
According to the Tribunal, one cannot file a petition unless he or she was a voter in the area, or a candidate who lost the election. It was also their finding that at this time, the petitioners cannot tell whether they won or lost when the electoral process had not yet been concluded.
“What is available on record are provisional results issued by the District Registrar on 18th July, 2025, at 4:30p.m, attached as Annexure A to the petition number 299 2025. The Tribunal finds that the Petitioners have no locus standi since their cause of action is based on provisional results, which can easily change as tallying progresses. Whereas the provisional results put Nkwasiibwe Henry in the lead, it is not possible to predict the final outcome of the election. Results could easily change in the course of tallying”, reads the decision.
Speaking to Our Reporter after picking his results, Hon Zinkuratire who is the incumbent MP has asked his voters to keep calm and wait for the final announcement results and continue supporting him because his win is still standing.
He noted that the votes that placed him in the lead belong to the people who voted for him in thousands as he couldn’t individually raised such a big number.
The Decision has been certified and sealed with the green stamp of the Tribunal by the Chairperson John Musiime with its directives therein directed to the Dr Tanga Odoi led NRM Electoral Commission.
The Decision in Ruhaama is from one of the 31 disputes that were determined by the Tribunal in its ninth batch of decisions delivered today in the wee hours of the night.
Ruhaama County is one of the strongholds of NRM and it was once represented in Parliament by the First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni who is the Minister for Sports and Education.
