NRM Tribunal Ditches Kalema Pax Petition, Upholds Babirye Sarah Kityo as the Rightful Flag Bearer

By: Kayiira Jackson 

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) electoral tribunal has officially upheld the results of the Bukoto East Constituency party primaries, confirming the former Youth MP Hon. Babirye Sarah Kityo as the duly elected NRM flag bearer.

This ruling dismissed a petition by her main rival, Kalema Fred Pax, who had challenged the fairness of the election.

Babirye Sarah Kityo won the primaries with a clear lead of 3,402 votes. The former Uganda Netball Federation president garnered 6423 votes while the petitioner, Kalema Fred Pax secured only 3021 votes. 

In his petition according to the ruling this website had a copy, Pax claimed that there were vote rigging especially in Bukakata sub county, also claimed that his agents were abducted and released only after the polls were done. He asked the Tribunal to present the Declaration forms from 16 polling stations and also asked for fresh elections in Bukakata sub county. 

In her response, Kityo denied all the claims against her stating that she was not the electoral officer nor the police who ordered the alleged arrests of Kalema’s agents. she asserted that her role as a candidate was to see that her voters go to polling stations and vote as well as her agents gather all the information needed.

The tribunal’s decision finalises the party’s candidate for the upcoming general elections and dismissed Kalema’s petition.

“The petition is hereby dismissed.” The document reads. “The declaration of Ms. Babirye Sarah Kityo as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Bukoto East Constituency.” 

This ruling was made on 6, August, 2025.