NRM Tribunal Overturns Kampala Lord Mayoral Primaries over Fake Credentials

The NRM Election Disputes Tribunal has nullified Mahad Kaweesa’s victory as the party’s flagbearer for Kampala Lord Mayor, declaring Kizito Moses Nsubuga the rightful winner.

The tribunal, chaired by John Musiime, ruled that Kaweesa did not meet the minimum academic requirements to contest, rendering his nomination invalid from the outset.

The dispute arose from petitions filed by four NRM members challenging the July 24, 2025, primaries. These included Kizito Moses Nsubuga, Mayambala Yosamu, Dr Thadeus Naggenda, and Katongole Abdul Hakim. However, only Nsubuga’s petition was ultimately considered, after the others either withdrew or were dismissed for procedural reasons.

He alleged that Kaweesa had no legitimate O-Level or A-Level certificates and was instead using the credentials of another individual, Kaweesa Solomon. Mahd Kaweesa claimed he earned the certificates under his birth name before converting to Islam and changing his name.

The tribunal, however, found his defence unconvincing, citing inconsistencies in his identification documents, public records, phone logs, handwriting samples, and his inability to recall basic school details.

Key inconsistencies included a 2020 National ID application listing the name Mahad Kaweesa, years before his legal name change, and a 2003 newspaper article referring to him as Mahad Kaweesa, despite his UCE certificate being issued under Solomon Kaweesa during the same year.

Phone records suggested that Mahd Kaweesa and Solomon Kaweesa were two distinct individuals, because phone records showed frequent calls between Mahd Kaweesa and someone with a number registered under the name Solomon Kaweesa.

Handwriting differences in school visitor logs and conflicting educational information on past ID forms added to the doubts. Mahad Kaweesa had claimed to have studied at St Noa Zana Primary School for his primary education, Kibibi Secondary School for O-Level (1999-2003) and Maryland High School for A-Level (2004-2005). 

But when questioned, Kaweesa was unable to recall basic details about his schools, teachers, classmates, or subjects, further raising concerns about whether he had actually earned the certificates. He also mistakenly described his A Level school as Catholic, when it is said to be a Seventh‑day Adventist institution.

Also, an earlier national ID form from 2014 indicated his highest level of education was Senior two, which was said to be conflicting with his claims of having A-Level credentials. The tribunal concluded that Kaweesa’s testimony was evasive and unreliable, and that someone else had actually obtained the academic credentials. 

Because holding an A-Level certificate or equivalent is a legal requirement to run for the position of Lord Mayor, Kaweesa’s nomination was ruled invalid. As a result, the tribunal nullified his primary victory and declared Kizito Moses Nsubuga, who had secured 43,505 votes, as the NRM’s legitimate flag-bearer for Kampala Lord Mayor.

Reacting to the ruling, Nsubuga welcomed the decision, emphasising that he was pleased the tribunal had “upheld the truth and ensured fairness in the process.”