Jacqueline Mbabazi retains NRM ticket for older persons after re-election

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Jacqueline Mbabazi, the wife of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, has emerged victorious once again as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer for the Western Region Older Persons Parliamentary seat, following fresh elections.

The victory comes weeks after her initial win was overturned by the NRM’s election disputes tribunal, chaired by John Musiime.

The tribunal had initially upheld her August 26 victory, in which she secured 215 votes against her closest rival, Patrick Kyamukama Mutabwire, who garnered 163.

But Mutabwire filed a review application supported by new evidence, leading to a reversal of the ruling and order for a fresh vote.

The vote had been conducted through the lining-up method under the supervision of NRM electoral commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi.

While Mbabazi's initial lead seemed decisive, Mutabwire swiftly contested the results, alleging a range of electoral irregularities, including over-voting, voter register discrepancies, and inflated tallies.

In a September 5, 2025, ruling, the tribunal dismissed Mutabwire’s first petition, admitting minor inconsistencies but considered them insufficient to alter the outcome.

However, a dramatic twist followed on September 24, when Mutabwire returned with new evidence that forced the tribunal to revisit its decision.

The focus of the new submission was a certified copy of the electoral register for the Western Uganda Older Persons constituency, which Mutabwire argued was not available during the first petition.

Alongside sworn affidavits and previous video evidence, the register revealed alarming irregularities, including duplicate voter entries, unlawful voter replacements, deceased individuals recorded as having voted, and an overall voter count that exceeded the number of eligible voters by 66.

According to the petitioner, at least 36 of those excess votes were cast in Mbabazi’s favour, enough to strip her of her lead if excluded.

When recalculated based on the valid voter roll, Mutabwire claimed a narrow 29-vote advantage. The tribunal, admitting the gravity of the new evidence, ruled that the integrity of the election had been compromised beyond salvage, and annulled the previous results, and ordered for a re-election, which was held on Tuesday (October 7).

In the new poll, Mbabazi reclaimed the party flag decisively.

She secured 189 votes, followed by Mutabwire with 137, while other candidates, Anne Muhindo Bakazimbaga, David Kabigumira, Mary Bashongoka Kamaduuka, Fidelis Gumusiriza Guma, or Lawrence Bategeka Nkooto, secured no vote.

“I therefore declare Jacqueline Mbabazi, who has polled the highest number of votes (189), representing 58.0%, as the duly elected NRM flagbearer for Older Persons Member of Parliament representing Western Region, 2025,” Odoi announced after the final tally at his office in Nakasero, Kampala.