The recently concluded NRM parliamentary primaries for Budiope East Constituency have been plunged into controversy after Hon. Dhamuzungu Geoffrey formally petitioned the party’s Electoral Commission, alleging widespread fraud, intimidation, and a deliberate compromise of the electoral process.

In a scathing letter dated July 21, 2025, Dhamuzungu accused high-ranking individuals, including the Right Honourable Speaker Anita Annet Among, the District Police Commander (DPC), the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and the District NRM Registrar, of orchestrating a scheme to rig the results in favour of Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim.

According to Dhamuzungu’s petition, Hon. Magogo was declared winner with an alleged 60,000 votes from 269 polling stations, despite claims that elections were not conducted in 120 villages, and official declaration forms were largely absent or forged.

Key Allegations Detailed in the Petition: Dhamuzungu outlined a series of grave irregularities:

Forged Returns and Unheld Elections: The petitioner claims that in numerous polling stations, elections did not occur because his agents refused to participate due to the absence of official Declaration of Results (D.R.) forms. Despite this, completed D.R. forms with forged signatures and inflated votes for Hon. Magogo were reportedly returned to the district tally centre.

Undermining Party Processes: Each polling zone was supposed to receive eight D.R. forms, but many areas received only four, which were reportedly prioritized for the Woman MP District flag bearer race, leaving the parliamentary race without official forms. Exercise books were allegedly used in their place, a practice Dhamuzungu states undermines the party’s credibility.

Violence and Agent Arrests: Security personnel, led by the Buyende DPC, are accused of assaulting and detaining several of Dhamuzungu’s agents, particularly in areas suspected of vote rigging. The petition states that six agents are currently in custody, and eight have been remanded at Buyende Prisons.

Extensive Forgery: As a security measure, Dhamuzungu’s agents were instructed to sign D.R. forms with green ink and affix unique numbered stamps. However, the forms later returned for tallying reportedly lacked green signatures and unique stamps, pointing to widespread forgery.

Lack of Transparency in Tallying: At the official district tally centre, results were allegedly announced only as sub-county totals, without a breakdown at the parish or village/zone level, making verification impossible.

Massive Falsification of Results: Over 120 zones in Kagulu Sub-County, Irundu Town Council, and Irundu Sub-County—areas identified as Dhamuzungu’s strongholds—reportedly saw grossly falsified results. In these areas, agents were allegedly instructed to record results in exercise books, which was rejected, yet filled D.R. forms, unsigned by his agents, were later presented at the tally centre.

Militarization and Intimidation: An excessive deployment of armed personnel in villages is cited as instilling fear among voters and disrupting free participation, particularly in areas targeted for result manipulation.

Allegations of Illegal Tally Centres and High-Level Involvement: The most serious accusations in the petition revolve around the establishment and operation of illegal tally centres:

Gwase Illegal Tally Centre: Dhamuzungu alleges that an illegal tally centre was set up at Gwase in Ngandho Sub-County, at the home of one Ziribasanga (a former LC5 and NRM District Chairperson). This centre was reportedly manned by district security agencies, the district registrar, and sub-county registrars from Bugaya, Gumpi, and Ngandho, in the presence of Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among.

The petition claims Speaker Among’s security detail mounted a roadblock at the premises from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, restricting access and ensuring secrecy. “It is from this location that all D.R. forms were delivered and fraudulently altered before being transported to the official district tally centre,” the petition states.

Magogo’s Private Residence as Tally Centre: The petition further alleges that Mr. Baliluno David, the NRM District Registrar, in collaboration with Hon. Magogo and other electoral officers, established another unofficial tally centre at Hon. Magogo’s private residence. This site also reportedly served as a hub where D.R. forms were delivered and fraudulently altered before being sent to the official district tally centre.

Conflict of Interest Claimed: Dhamuzungu highlights a significant conflict of interest involving Mr. Baliluno David, the NRM District Registrar. Baliluno also serves as the Chairman of the Buyende District Football Association, making him a direct subordinate to Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, who is the current FUFA President. This relationship, the petition argues, compromised Baliluno’s impartiality as an electoral officer.

Questionable Official Tally Centre Setup: The petitioner also raised concerns about the official district tally centre, describing it as “isolated and restricted,” far from the known district headquarters, heavily guarded by armed military personnel, and inaccessible to candidates and their agents.

Dhamuzungu asserts that he has “credible evidence and eyewitness accounts to support all these claims” and is ready to present them. He expressed continued confidence in the leadership of NRM National Chairman, H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, believing that “much of this electoral malpractice was carried out without his knowledge.”

Demands for Redress

In light of the alleged irregularities, Hon. Dhamuzungu Geoffrey has formally requested that the NRM Electoral Commission:

• – Nullify the election results for Budiope East Constituency.
• – Organize a fresh election under free, fair, and transparent conditions, ideally with independent observers and party monitors.
• -Ensure the immediate release of his agents currently in custody and prison.
• -Replace the current district registrar due to the alleged conflict of interest.
• Efforts to reach Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, Speaker Among, and the implicated district officials for comment were unsuccessful by press time. The NRM Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official statement regarding the petition. The outcome of this petition is likely to have significant implications for the integrity of the NRM’s internal democratic processes.