In a dramatic twist in Uganda’s pre-election season, Jacqueline Mbabazi, wife of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, has been nullified as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the parliamentary seat representing older persons in Western Uganda. The unexpected decision has triggered political ripples within the ruling party, raising fresh questions about the credibility and internal cohesion of the NRM ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The nullification follows a renewed electoral dispute that has overturned an earlier ruling by the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal. That initial ruling, issued on August 11, 2025, had dismissed a petition challenging Mbabazi’s candidacy and upheld her win in the NRM primaries, where she garnered 215 votes against a combined 53 from her opponents. Tribunal chairperson John Musiime had concluded there was insufficient evidence to merit a reversal at the time.
However, the latest ruling sets a new challenge—legal or internal—has succeeded in disqualifying her candidacy.
While the full details of this decision have not been officially released, many raise concerns “Was it an appeal decision? Doesn’t it contradict this previous decision?”
The earlier tribunal report had flagged concerns about procedural ambiguities in the NRM’s internal electoral framework, particularly the lack of clear timelines—a point widely criticized after the party’s chaotic July 2025 primaries, which were marred by violence.
Amama Mbabazi had earlier responded to the initial ruling that upheld Jacqueline’s victory with a carefully worded public statement urging party unity. “The party election disputes tribunal has dismissed its petition and delivered its verdict… I commend all parties involved… Now is the time to close ranks,” he wrote.
Observers note the historical tension between the Mbabazi family and President Yoweri Museveni, dating back to a high-profile fallout in 2014, may be resurfacing amid this latest dispute. Some insiders suggest the nullification may reflect deeper factional rifts inside the NRM, where power struggles continue to play out beneath the surface.
With the party’s candidate list under scrutiny and fresh disputes likely to emerge, attention is turning to the NRM’s internal mechanisms and how they will handle the fallout from this high-profile setback. Further information is expected from the tribunal in the coming days to clarify the legal basis and implications of this surprise ruling.
