Bulambuli Boils! NRM Flag Bearer Defies Petition Amidst Explosive Vote Fraud Claims

By Our Reporter

Tensions are running high in Elgon County following serious allegations of electoral malpractice in the recent NRM party primaries, with newly declared flag bearer Massa Moses at the center of a growing storm.

Massa is accused of deliberately evading service of an official petition filed by lawyers representing Hon. Wamakuyu Mudimi, the incumbent Member of Parliament. Sources close to the matter allege that Massa is avoiding the petition due to fears that the claims it contains could unravel his contested victory.

At the core of the dispute is Sotti Sub-county, where the voter turnout was reported at an astonishing 99%, with Massa allegedly securing 5,018 votes. The figure has sparked national concern, as no sub-county across Uganda recorded even a 60% turnout in the same primaries.

To compound matters, the vote tallies claimed by Massa reportedly differ significantly from the results announced at the district tally center, raising suspicions of ballot manipulation, vote inflation, or outright fabrication.

Electoral Registrar Implicated

The controversy deepened after recordings surfaced allegedly featuring the Bulambuli electoral registrar, who was heard stating, “I had not eaten and couldn’t just work for nothing.” The statement has been interpreted as an admission of compromise or bribery, prompting demands for urgent investigations and possible disciplinary action.

Observers say this casts a dark shadow over the credibility of the NRM primaries in the area and raises questions about whether Hon. Mudimi was unfairly denied victory through coordinated malpractice.

In a live interview on Elgon FM in Mbale, Massa Moses openly declared that he would not appear before the NRM party tribunal, dismissing it as “unprofessional.” He further instructed Hon. Mudimi’s legal team not to serve him directly, instead demanding that the petition be routed through the Bulambuli District Electoral Commission.

This stance has drawn sharp criticism from within the party, with some senior NRM figures viewing it as a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability and undermine the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

Museveni Responds: “No Room For Nonsense”

Amid mounting public outcry, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the NRM National Chairman, has reportedly weighed in. According to sources close to State House, the President has condemned the irregularities and instructed security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly.

“Such nonsense will not be tolerated,” Museveni is quoted as saying, emphasizing his commitment to safeguarding the integrity of party processes — regardless of which candidate ultimately benefits.

With the legal deadline to serve the petition just two days away, Hon. Mudimi’s legal team is racing against time. Legal experts warn that Massa’s refusal to engage with the process could lead to sanctions, including potential disqualification as the NRM flag bearer.

As the situation in Bulambuli spirals into what many now describe as a national political scandal, attention is firmly on the NRM Secretariat and Uganda’s security agencies to uphold due process and ensure justice is served.

With strong evidence pointing to electoral irregularities and the flag bearer refusing to face scrutiny, the outcome of this saga could have far-reaching consequences for internal democracy within the ruling party — and for the 2026 general elections.