Africa-Press – Uganda. Collins Tanga, son of National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission chairperson Tanga Odoi, has rejected a tribunal ruling that nullified his election as Chairperson of the NRM Youth League.
The tribunal, established to investigate grievances from the August 2025 Youth League polls, annulled Tanga’s victory on September 8, citing irregularities and conflict of interest.
Tanga had been declared winner with 1,567 votes, beating rival Brenda Kiconco, who polled 1,355.
Kiconco and other candidates contested the results, pointing to procedural flaws and alleging nepotism since the election was presided over by Tanga’s father.
In its ruling, the tribunal chaired by John Musiime, with members Diana Kasabiti and Esau Isingoma, found that:
Several candidates were wrongly excluded from the ballot or declared withdrawn without their consent.
The tallying process contained discrepancies and unreliable records.
Dr. Tanga Odoi’s direct involvement in presiding over the election, signing documents, and declaring his son the winner created a conflict of interest.
The election’s scheduling at 4:00 a.m. after multiple postponements undermined transparency.
Collins Tanga’s age of 31, though within NRM’s youth bracket (18–35), conflicted with the National Youth Council Act, which caps youth leadership at 30.
On this basis, the tribunal nullified Tanga’s victory and ordered fresh elections, directing that Dr. Tanga Odoi must not play any role in organizing or overseeing the rerun.
Collins Tanga, however, dismissed the ruling, insisting his win was legitimate. “My father did not influence my campaign or solicit support. He only fulfilled his official duty of announcing results,” he said.
The ruling is a test of NRM’s internal democracy, signaling the party’s willingness to address grievances even when senior officials and their relatives are involved.
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