Paul Akamba Busiki: High Court Overturns NRM Tribunal Decision
The High Court in Kampala has reinstated Hon. Paul Akamba as the NRM flagbearer for Busiki Constituency, overturning the party’s Election Disputes Tribunal decision that had declared Watswa Joel Azalwa the winner.
Justice Collins Acellam ruled that both the NRM District Registrar and the tribunal acted illegally and beyond their mandate, violating principles of fairness and natural justice during the party’s internal primaries.
Akamba had been announced winner of the July 18 primaries with 34,265 votes, but a day later, the Registrar issued a revised declaration naming Watswa the winner with 35,249 votes — without notifying Akamba or giving any explanation.
“The Registrar acted illegally when he rescinded the declaration of the applicant to declare the second respondent,” Justice Acellam stated in his October 17 ruling, emphasizing that the official was functus officio and could not legally alter results after declaration.
Court Faults NRM Tribunal for Procedural Violations
The judge also criticized the NRM tribunal for re-tallying results from 249 polling stations without Akamba’s presence, despite his written complaints about vote falsification. “The procedure of re-tallying without giving the applicant a chance to witness the exercise was procedurally illegal, irregular, and irrational,” he ruled.
Akamba presented video evidence and declaration forms proving his initial victory, which the tribunal dismissed — a move the court found “biased, unreasonable, and irrational.” Further investigation revealed that the re-tally included results from three non-existent polling stations — Kangulumire Zone A, Isegeto, and Nakazunzo — inflating Watswa’s margin by more than 800 votes.
Judicial Oversight Strengthened
While NRM lawyers argued that internal party disputes are not subject to court review, Justice Acellam disagreed, citing the public nature of political parties and their impact on national governance. “Decisions of the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal are subject to judicial review if they touch public law and rights,” he ruled.
The court nullified the tribunal’s decision, reinstated Paul Akamba as the official NRM flagbearer, and ordered the party to issue him the flag and card to contest in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
“The right to a fair hearing is not granted — it is a constitutional command,” Justice Acellam emphasized.
The Paul Akamba Busiki verdict is expected to reshape how political parties handle internal election disputes, reaffirming judicial oversight in matters of procedural fairness and electoral integrity.
