NRM tribunal overturns Mbale primaries, declares Hudu Hussein winner

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Election Disputes Tribunal has overturned the results of the party’s primary election for the Mbale City Northern Division parliamentary seat, declaring Hudu Hussein as the new flag bearer.

The ruling sets aside the initial victory of Umar Nangoli, who had been declared the winner with 22,166 votes against Hussein’s 21,575. Hussein, the former Kampala City RCC, petitioned the tribunal, citing several irregularities, including falsification of Declaration of Results (DR) forms and voter intimidation.

He asked the tribunal to nullify the results in the affected areas and declare him the rightful winner. Nangoli, represented by lawyer Chris Mbaga Malinga, denied the allegations and maintained that he had been lawfully elected.

In its ruling, the tribunal, chaired by John Musiime, found merit in Hussein’s claims regarding falsified results in two key locations. The tribunal found that in Doko cell, the total number of votes had been inflated from 105 to 405, and Nangoli’s tally was unlawfully increased by 200 votes.

A similar alteration in Bwana cell saw Nangoli’s votes illegally inflated from 42 to 142. These proven discrepancies led to a deduction of 300 votes from Nangoli’s total.

Additionally, the tribunal nullified the results from four other polling stations, Bumuluya cell, Namabasa 5(A) cell, Kibumbire, and Namabasa III A cell on the grounds that the number of votes exceeded the number of registered voters.

While this affected all candidates, the tribunal ruled that the proven irregularities had a substantial impact on the final outcome. After adjusting the vote tallies, the tribunal found that Hudu Hussein’s total was 20,898 votes, while Nangoli’s was 20,562, giving Hussein a lead of 336 votes.

Citing Regulation 44 of the NRM Election Regulations 2025, which allows the tribunal to declare a new winner if irregularities materially affected the results, the panel ruled in favour of Hussein. Hussein welcomed the decision, thanking the tribunal for “finding out the truth and upholding the will of the voters in Mbale.”

He will now represent the NRM in the 2026 general elections against candidates from other political parties.