MP Sekyanzi Wants NRM Tribunal to Conduct Field Investigations Before Ruling on Petitions

Budyebo County Member of Parliament Sekyanzi Benard Kirya has called on the NRM Elections Disputes Tribunal to leave their base at Plot 30 and conduct on-the-ground investigations before issuing final verdicts in ongoing primary election petitions.

Speaking to the press after appearing before the tribunal on July 30, Sekyanzi stressed the importance of fact-finding missions to validate the evidence being presented.

“The tribunal should spare a day or two and go to the field, where the disputes happened, and do an assessment because that is where the truth is,” he said.

Sekyanzi filed a petition challenging the declaration of Ssebugga Bernado Kimeze as the NRM flag bearer for Budyebo County following the party primaries held on July 17.

According to the official results announced by the district returning officer Batumbya Godfrey, Kimeze won the race with 11,811 votes, while Sekyanzi came second with 11,064 votes.

Five other candidates also participated in the contest.

Sekyanzi expressed concern that the tribunal may base its decisions on second-hand information if it does not verify allegations on the ground.

“There’s a risk that the party may end up presenting weak candidates who cannot compete effectively in the general elections,” he warned.

The NRM tribunal is currently handling dozens of petitions arising from hotly contested primaries across the country.

Sekyanzi’s plea adds pressure on the panel to widen its scope of inquiry beyond written submissions and witness testimonies.