The National Resistance Movement (NRM) tribunal has nullified the election of Collins Tanga, son of the /party’s Electoral Commission boss Tanga Odoi, as Chairperson of the NRM Youth League.
Collins was found to have benefited from gross irregularities and non-compliance with electoral regulations.
The ruling, anchored on Regulation 45(6), noted that the election process was tainted with tallying errors and unreliable records, making it impossible to declare any candidate duly elected.
The tribunal emphasized that the only proper remedy was to cancel the disputed results and direct a fresh poll conducted in full compliance with the NRM Constitution, Election Regulations, and Polling Day Guidelines.
One of the petitioners, Brenda Kiconco, claimed she had secured 1,355 votes but that about 400 were wrongly added to Tanga’s tally, raising his total to 1,567. Another petitioner, Wilson Otto, said his name was completely left off the ballot paper, denying his supporters the opportunity to vote for him. Mackline Natukwasa also told the tribunal that her name was removed without consent and the Electoral Commission falsely declared that she had withdrawn, despite her not signing a withdrawal form.
The tribunal agreed that excluding Otto and Natukwasa violated NRM election rules and disenfranchised their supporters. In its ruling, the panel stated: “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. The acts of presiding, announcing withdrawals, signing papers, and declaring a son the winner are not just formalities. These are the very acts that run the election.”
In its findings, the tribunal stressed that Tanga Odoi, the father of the nullified winner, must not preside over or participate in the conduct of the repeat election.
Instead, the other members of the NRM Electoral Commission will oversee the process to restore confidence among stakeholders.
The tribunal issued the following directives:
- The declaration of Collins Tanga as Chairperson of the NRM Youth League is nullified.
- The NRM Electoral Commission must conduct a fresh election in strict adherence to party laws and electoral guidelines.
- Dr. Tanga Odoi is barred from presiding over or taking part in any capacity during the fresh election.
It was issued in Kampala under the seal of the Electoral Disputes Tribunal.
On August 27, Collins Tanga was declared the winner of the NRM Youth League elections after scoring 1,567 votes to defeat Brenda Kiconco, who polled 1,355.
He was declared winner by his father, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson.
His election nullification is a significant blow to the NRM leadership, as it raises questions of transparency and fairness within the ruling party’s internal elections.
Analysts note that excluding Tanga Odoi from the process is an extraordinary move aimed at insulating the rerun from allegations of conflict of interest.
The NRM Youth League election is a crucial process in shaping the party’s future leadership and mobilization structures.
The nullification now means the ruling party will have to head back to the polls, under tighter scrutiny, to elect a new Youth League chairperson.
A central issue in the petition was the role of Dr. Tanga Odoi, father of Collins Tanga, who chaired the NRM Electoral Commission that organized the election. The tribunal described this as a clear conflict of interest, faulting him for presiding over the process, announcing withdrawals, signing the results, and declaring his son as the winner. “A careful chairperson would have stepped aside knowing the conflict of interest,” the ruling read.
Questions had also been raised over Collins Tanga’s age. Petitioners argued he was above the prescribed limit, but the tribunal found him to be 31 years old, within the NRM’s internal age bracket of 18 to 35 years. However, it noted the discrepancy with the National Youth Council Act, which sets the youth age limit at 30, and recommended that the party align its regulations with national law to avoid confusion.
The tribunal also pointed to broader irregularities. The election, initially scheduled for August 25, was postponed multiple times and finally held at 4:00 a.m. on August 27, which it said caused voter fatigue and undermined fairness. It also cited delays, confusion, and an incident during the vote count where Tanga was seen whispering to presiding officer Ambassador James Kinobe, raising concerns about transparency.
The fallout from the election was already visible. At Kololo, some delegates and youth activists interrupted President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s speech, protesting Tanga’s election and demanding clarity on the age requirements and transparency. Museveni, who also chairs the NRM, advised the aggrieved parties to file complaints with the tribunal, leading to Monday’s ruling.
Consequently, the tribunal nullified Collins Tanga’s election and directed the NRM Electoral Commission to organize fresh elections. It further ruled that Dr. Tanga Odoi should not participate in the new process to ensure fairness and avoid conflict of interest.
The decision also unlocks the way forward for other pending NRM Youth League elections. At least 18 positions—including committee members, regional vice chairpersons, and the five Youth MP flag bearers—had been suspended pending resolution of the case against Collins Tanga and his father.