The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party tribunal has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Bruce Balaba Kabaasa as the NRM flag bearer for Rubanda West Constituency in Rubanda District.
The petition, filed on July 17, 2025, by Oscar Nkotanyi, one of Kabaasa’s rivals in the party primaries, alleged widespread electoral malpractices. Nkotanyi claimed the election was marred by voter bribery, fraud, violence, intimidation, and other irregularities that significantly disadvantaged his candidacy.
He accused Kabaasa’s agents and associates of openly distributing money during the voting process to sway voters in his favour, citing incidents at polling stations in Kacerere Trading Centre, Kishanje, Ruhiija Trading Centre, and Ikumba.
Nkotanyi further alleged that only three of the 471 polling stations were considered during the tallying of results, and that complaints he lodged with the returning officer were ignored. He claimed his polling agents were denied access to several stations, assaulted, and intimidated, and were barred from displaying his posters or voting on his behalf.
In some areas, Nkotanyi alleged his name was not read out by registrars, and in several polling stations, declaration forms were not delivered to the tally centre. He petitioned the tribunal seeking nullification of the election results and a declaration naming him the rightful winner.
However, in a ruling delivered on Wednesday and signed by tribunal members Ampaire Tumwebaze, Hillary Kabiswa, Diana Kasabiiti (head of panel), and John Musiime (chairperson of the NRM election disputes tribunal), the petition was dismissed.
The tribunal ruled that Nkotanyi failed to present sufficient evidence to support his claims. He did not specify which polling stations his agents were denied access to, or identify which results failed to reach the tally centre.
The tribunal also discovered that Nkotanyi lacked his own tally figures to compare with the official results.
“The burden of proof in this instance has not been discharged by the petitioner,” the ruling stated. “Having found no evidence to support his claims, the tribunal answers the issue in the negative.”
The tribunal upheld Bruce Balaba Kabaasa’s election as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Rubanda West Constituency.
