In a fiery response just, days after the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party election disputes tribunal nullified his election as NRM Youth League Chairperson, Collins Tanga Junior has come out swinging, rubbishing the tribunal’s decision and accusing it of acting on “hearsay and public noise” rather than accurate evidence.
Collins, son of NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi, said he was not convinced by the tribunal’s findings, which upheld petitions filed by three former contestants , Brenda Kiconco, Wilson Otto, and Mackline Natukwasa.
He dismissed the ruling as biased and politically motivated, claiming the decision lacked factual grounding and was “meant to appease noise-makers.”
In its ruling, the tribunal cited a conflict of interest, arguing that Dr. Odoi’s involvement in a process where his son was a candidate fatally compromised the integrity of the election.
The disputed polls were held from August 26–27, 2028, at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.
In a strongly worded statement, Collins accused the tribunal of bowing to public pressure rather than following facts.
“It hurts to see the tribunal deliver a ruling based on mere hearsay, not evidence. If my opponents claim votes were added, where is the proof? This was an appeasement ruling, not a fact-based one,” Collins charged.
He denied allegations that his father interfered in the process, claiming Dr. Odoi only appeared during the declaration of results.
Tanga also dismissed the tribunal as favoring “noise makers” and argued that public perception should not override the will of thousands of youth delegates who voted.
“You cannot cite public perception as a basis for nullifying someone’s victory. In politics, mobilizing a noisy group doesn’t equate to legitimacy,” he said.
Petitions/tribunal Findings
The petitions against Collins’ election were led by Brenda Kiconco, who was declared runner-up. She alleged that Tanga’s tally was unlawfully inflated by 400 votes , from 1,167 to 1,567, arguing that Dr. Odoi’s failure to recuse himself from the electoral process created both real and perceived bias.
The tribunal agreed, noting serious procedural flaws and conflict of interest, and issued a 16-page ruling with the following key findings:
- Unlawful exclusion of candidates: The omission of Mackline Natukwasa and sidelining of Wilson Otto disenfranchised their supporters and undermined the election’s legitimacy.
- Polling irregularities: A 37-hour delay in polling caused confusion, voter fatigue, and walkouts, eroding transparency.
- Conflict of interest: Dr. Odoi presided over a process where his son was a candidate, announced withdrawals, signed results, and declared his son the winner — all in violation of principles of impartiality.
Quoting Justice Giidudu in Uganda v Patricia Ojangole (2014), the tribunal emphasized that both the perception and reality of bias destroy the credibility of an election.
The tribunal issued three binding directives:
- The declaration of Collins Tanga as NRM Youth League Chairperson is nullified.
- A fresh election must be conducted in full compliance with the NRM Constitution and electoral guidelines.
- Tanga Odoi is barred from participating in any capacity in the new election.
The case saw a generational showdown between top legal minds. Petitioner Brenda Kiconco was represented by Counsel Ekima Emmanuel, supported by Sulaiman Mayanja and Phillip Aryatuha. On the other side, Collins Tanga was represented by Caleb Alaka, while Dr. Odoi was defended by Moses Kabega — both veteran litigators known for handling high-stakes political cases.
While Tanga’s legal team dismissed the petitions as “sour grapes” from losing candidates, Ekima focused on vote inflation, age eligibility, and conflict of interest — arguments that heavily influenced the final decision.
Implications for the NRM
Legal analysts say the ruling resets the NRM Youth League leadership race and sends a clear message about internal accountability. It also underscores the need for impartiality in party processes and serves as a warning against allowing personal interests to compromise institutional credibility.
“This ruling reaffirms that integrity and transparency are non-negotiable in political processes — even within party structures,” one legal expert noted.
Despite the setback, Tanga has confirmed his intention to run again, expressing confidence that he will reclaim the mandate of the youth delegates in the rerun.
While addressing journalists at his office on September 9, 2025 Dr Tanga Odoi he had not problem with the tribunal outcome. “For the avoidance of doubt, Tanga Collins is my second born. Elections are an event, but life and relationships are a process. Therefore, I have no problem with the tribunal outcome.” he noted.
