Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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The High Court in Kampala has dismissed a petition challenging the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee’s endorsement of Speaker Anita Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa for the top parliamentary positions in the upcoming 12th Parliament.
📸: Annette Anita Among, Speaker of the 11th parliament of Uganda ft Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker- image Courtesy of New Vision.
The petition had been filed by Jack Nsubuga alias Mandela, who argued that the party’s decision to front Among and Tayebwa without allowing other interested members to compete violated internal party democracy and constitutional principles. The petitioner wanted court to nullify the endorsement and compel the ruling party to conduct a fresh and transparent selection process.
However, Justice Acellam dismissed the application, ruling that the petitioner had failed to first exhaust the NRM’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking court intervention. The judge stressed that courts should avoid interfering in internal political party processes unless there is clear evidence of illegality.
“Courts are guardians of legality, not supervisors of political strategy,” the judge ruled while emphasizing the doctrine of exhaustion.
Despite dismissing the case, the court declined to award costs against the petitioner, noting that the matter raised important constitutional and democratic questions regarding governance within political parties. Each party was therefore ordered to meet its own costs.
The ruling now clears a major legal obstacle for Among and Tayebwa ahead of the expected parliamentary leadership race, as the NRM prepares to present its preferred candidates to the parliamentary caucus for endorsement.
Source: Daily Monitor UG
The petition had been filed by Jack Nsubuga alias Mandela, who argued that the party’s decision to front Among and Tayebwa without allowing other interested members to compete violated internal party democracy and constitutional principles. The petitioner wanted court to nullify the endorsement and compel the ruling party to conduct a fresh and transparent selection process.
However, Justice Acellam dismissed the application, ruling that the petitioner had failed to first exhaust the NRM’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking court intervention. The judge stressed that courts should avoid interfering in internal political party processes unless there is clear evidence of illegality.
“Courts are guardians of legality, not supervisors of political strategy,” the judge ruled while emphasizing the doctrine of exhaustion.
Despite dismissing the case, the court declined to award costs against the petitioner, noting that the matter raised important constitutional and democratic questions regarding governance within political parties. Each party was therefore ordered to meet its own costs.
The ruling now clears a major legal obstacle for Among and Tayebwa ahead of the expected parliamentary leadership race, as the NRM prepares to present its preferred candidates to the parliamentary caucus for endorsement.
Source: Daily Monitor UG
