Kampala, Uganda – The NRM Youth League elections have been thrown into disarray after the party’s tribunal nullified the victory of Collins Tanga, citing gross irregularities and a glaring conflict of interest at the heart of the process.
At the center of the storm is Dr. Tanga Odoi, Collins’ father and chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, who presided over the disputed poll. In its ruling, the tribunal said Dr. Odoi’s role compromised the integrity of the exercise, describing his conduct as “a choice that fatally tainted the election.”
The judgment noted that Dr. Odoi did not merely play a ceremonial role but actively shaped the outcome—announcing withdrawals, signing result forms, and eventually declaring his son the winner. “As father of one of the contestants, Dr. Odoi could not, in law or perception, exercise impartiality,” the panel wrote.
Beyond the conflict of interest, the tribunal faulted the election for unlawfully sidelining other contenders. It pointed to the case of Mackline Natukwasa, whose alleged withdrawal was announced without the legally required written notice, and Wilson Otto, who was excluded altogether. These omissions, the tribunal said, disenfranchised entire blocs of supporters and “materially undermined the credibility of the poll.”
The chaotic conduct of the election further weighed against its validity. Voting, initially set for August 25, was delayed for nearly two days and only began at 4:00 a.m. on August 27—an arrangement the tribunal said bred fatigue, confusion, and voter flight.
Although allegations that 400 votes were unlawfully added to Collins’ tally could not be conclusively proven, the tribunal said the sheer scale of procedural flaws rendered the entire outcome invalid.
The ruling also reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the contest, recalling protests and near-riots at Kololo during the declaration and renewed demonstrations at the swearing-in of new CEC members three days later. “The perception of bias was not only reasonable but widespread,” it observed.
With Collins Tanga’s victory now quashed, the tribunal’s decision marks a significant moment for the ruling party’s internal democracy—raising sharp questions about transparency, fairness, and the dangers of unchecked influence in NRM’s electoral processes.
