Museveni appoints lawyer John Musiime to head NRM Election Tribunal

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has appointed prominent lawyer John Musiime as chairperson of the party’s Election Tribunal.

The tribunal is tasked with resolving internal party disputes, the majority of which stem from electoral processes and governance decisions. Museveni made the appointment on Thursday, the same day NRM conducted primary elections for District Woman MP and constituency flag bearer positions across the country.

Musiime will lead a 29-member team comprising some of the most experienced legal minds in Uganda. Speaking to our reporter, Musiime said the appointment was both an honour and a privilege.

“It is a most high honour and privilege to be trusted by the national chairman…with this task. I am fortunate to have been assigned to lead a team of some of the most eminent, experienced and ablest lawyers in Uganda,” Musiime said.

Musiime will work closely with the NRM Directorate of Legal Services, led by lawyer Enoch Barata, to manage complaints arising from the ongoing party primaries. Barata, on Wednesday, announced a five-day deadline including weekends for aggrieved candidates to file petitions with the NRM Electoral Commission following the declaration of results.

Only duly filed petitions will be considered by the tribunal.

Who is John Musiime?

John Musiime is a partner at Dentons Advocates Uganda, where he heads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. He is also a partner at Kyagaba and Otatiina Advocates.

With over 15 years of legal experience, Musiime is regarded as one of Uganda’s most gifted and tenacious litigators. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and specializes in complex commercial litigation, banking disputes, judicial review, and arbitration.

He has represented a wide range of clients—including commercial banks and financial institutions in high-value domestic and cross-border disputes. He has also earned a reputation for “litigation-proofing” commercial transactions and has appeared before the Court of Appeal.

Musiime’s expertise spans strategic litigation, data protection, intellectual property, real estate, and foreign probate matters. Clients rely on him for his deep understanding of legal complexities and client-focused solutions.

In 2022, the Uganda Law Society recognised his outstanding performance with the “Excellence from the Bar” award, while his litigation team at Dentons was named “Litigation Team of the Year.”

He is also a published legal commentator, having authored works such as: “A Commentary on Justice Stephen Mubiru’s Landmark Decision in Barbara Namayega vs Etot Denis & Others” “Judicial Review: A Used or Abused Tool” (presented at the Uganda Law Society Litigation Practice Training, 2021)

In a separate development, a Statutory Instrument dated 11 February 2025 also names Musiime as assistant secretary to the Judicial Tribunal of Inquiry into the conduct of former Supreme court Justice Esther Kisaakye, who currently lives in exile.