President Museveni has said that the fate of the newly elected NRM Youth League chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi’s son, will be determined by the party tribunal after a section of youth delegates protested the election outcome.
Collin Tanga, the son to the chairperson of the NRM electoral commission was declared winner, beating Brenda Kiconco who protested the outcome of the election.
During the closure of the NRM National Delegates Conference at Kololo Independence grounds, Museveni was interrupted for several minutes as youth delegates loudly objected to the election, prompting him to intervene.
“Shut up now. Enough! Shut up and sit down. The objection of the youths about the boy who was elected is noted. Listen carefully,” the president said, urging calm at Kololo.
Museveni emphasized that, under the law, once a candidate is declared elected, the results can only be challenged through a formal petition, not by protests on the conference floor.
“I have noted the objection of the youth, but when I checked with lawyers, once somebody is announced, they can only be removed by petition,” he said.
He added that the party resolution could be amended to reflect that the election of the youth delegate is contested and is now before the tribunal for adjudication.
“If I had the power to order anything, I would have done it, but I don’t have [that power], except to refer it to the tribunal. Let us have an amendment to the resolution to say the election of the youth leader is contested. My young people, your objection will be part of this resolution,” Museveni told delegates.
The president acknowledged the frustration of some delegates, remarking that “one of the youth was particularly annoying” during the exchanges, but urged them to trust due process.
“I am 80 years old but with no blood pressure, and if you want to run, I can challenge you here. This is because I don’t worry too much. If a problem comes, I handle it rationally, not emotionally. You don’t have to get blood pressure over the election. If there are mistakes, they happened here on earth, not in heaven, and we can handle them,” he said.
Museveni commended the protesting youth for standing up for what they believed was right, describing them as “true members of the resistance movement.”
“Thank you for being members of the resistance movement. The young people, by resisting what you think was wrong, you have become true members of NRM. However, you must do it in the right way. It is good to resist—but in what way?” he asked.
Meanwhile, NRM’s Director for Legal Affairs, Enock Barata, explained the tribunal process.
“According to the rules, if it is found that the wrong person was declared other than the rightful winner, the tribunal has the power to declare the proper winner. If the tribunal cannot determine that, it can order a fresh election,” Barata said.
