NRM Tribunal Upholds Musasizi’s Victory in Rubanda East Primaries

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party tribunal has dismissed an election petition filed by Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema against Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, the Minister of State for Finance in charge of General Duties.

Jogo, the former Rubanda District LC5 chairperson, petitioned the tribunal after losing the party flag for Rubanda East Constituency in the recent primaries. Musasizi polled 22,538 votes against Jogo’s 18,832, while Israel Atueire and Pierre Mbabazi Ntegyereize, the district deputy speaker, managed 39 and 11 votes respectively. 

Through his lawyers Haruna Sewaya, Yaziddi Tibamuteteke, and Suzan Niwahereza, Jogo asked the tribunal to nullify Musasizi’s victory, citing voter bribery, missing names in the register, obstruction of voters, sectarianism, and manipulation. 

However, Musasizi’s legal team—Elvis Twenda (former Ndorwa East MP contestant), Joshua Oruro, and Ronald Atuheire—argued that Jogo failed to provide evidence. In a ruling dated August 18, 2025, but released on Wednesday, the tribunal—chaired by John Musiime and members Joseph Lobalang, Isaac Okurut, and Anthony Bazira—dismissed Jogo’s petition, upholding Musasizi as the rightful NRM flagbearer for Rubanda East. 

Following the decision, Musasizi issued a brief statement thanking his supporters for their prayers and solidarity. Jogo also released a short message urging his supporters “to take heart.”