I Want a Vote Recount

Tensions continue to rise in Buwekula County following the conclusion of the NRM party primaries, as Edward Kulabilawo has petitioned the NRM tribunal to contest the outcome.

Kulabilawo, a former officer with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), is demanding a vote recount after Rtd. Maj. Joseph Kakooza was declared the party’s flag bearer.

Kakooza was announced winner on Friday, July 18, by Amos Natuliinda, the NRM elections officer for Mubende District, amid chaos at the tally center sparked by Kulabilawo’s supporters.

The commotion forced a temporary two-hour suspension of the vote tallying process.

Kulabilawo alleges that serious voting irregularities occurred in several villages, notably Bujjala and Kitanda, where voting reportedly continued into the night—well beyond official hours.

In response to the complaints, Mubende RDC Al-Hajji Umar Lule Mawiya, in coordination with the elections officer, ordered the exclusion of results from the two disputed villages.

This decision angered Kakooza’s camp, who accused the RDC of partiality and walked out of the tally center around midday.

However, they later returned, and the tallying resumed.

The final vote tally was as follows:

• Ndahiro Jackson – 1,169 votes
• Willy Mugabe – 36 votes
• Kato John Baptist – 316 votes
• Sserumkuuma Charles – 285 votes
• Mutesi Oliver – 315 votes
• Judith Mujawimana – 3,753 votes
• Ssendegeya – 1,147 votes
• Tumwine Alfred – 679 votes
• Mukiza Lauben – 2,399 votes
• Kulabilawo Edward – 5,868 votes
• Maj. Joseph Kakooza – 6,224 votes

Earlier today, Kulabilawo formally filed his petition with the NRM electoral tribunal, citing inconsistencies in the vote tallying and what he called a discrepancy between verbal directives and actual execution by the returning officer.

“I have today filed my petition to the tribunal, requesting a vote recount because the returning officer verbally excluded results from two villages, but in reality, he did not. I want the tribunal to consider my concerns because I believe I am the rightful winner,” Kulabilawo stated.

He warned that if the tribunal does not rule in his favor, he will consider other political avenues.

“If they fail to give me a fair judgment, I will consult with my supporters and announce my next step,” he added.

The NRM tribunal has not yet issued an official response to the petition.