KAMPALA
On Friday ,a day after the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party organized its internal parliamentary primaries which were marred by violence and massive irregularities , President Museveni, the national party chairperson , appointed a prominent lawyer John Musiime to chair a 29-member tribunal to look into complaints of aggrieved candidates .
The tribunal is tasked with resolving internal party disputes, the majority of which stem from electoral processes and governance decisions.
Musiime will work with some of the most experienced legal minds in the land.
“It is a most high honour and privilege to be trusted by the national chairman…with this task. I am fortunate to have been assigned to lead a team of some of the most eminent, experienced and ablest lawyers in Uganda,” Musiime said.
Musiime will work closely with the NRM Directorate of Legal Services, led by lawyer Enoch Barata, to manage complaints arising from the ongoing party primaries.
Barata, on Wednesday, announced a five-day deadline including weekends for aggrieved candidates to file petitions with the NRM Electoral Commission following the declaration of results.
Only duly filed petitions will be considered by the tribunal. However, the biggest question lingering in the minds of many NRM members is where the tribunal will solve the electoral disputes and save the party from having independent candidates contesting against official party flag bearers in next year’s general elections.
“ I don’t doubt the capacity of members on the tribunal ,but given the time we have to national polls organized by the Electoral Commission ,they may not solve all the disputes at hand , Many of those complaining may get frustrated and stand as independents ” Sam Kisitu ,a member of NRM in Wakiso District observed .
Who is John Musiime?
John Musiime is a partner at Dentons Advocates Uganda, where he heads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. He is also a partner at Kyagaba and Otatiina Advocates.
With over 15 years of legal experience, Musiime is regarded as one of Uganda’s most gifted and tenacious litigators. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and specializes in complex commercial litigation, banking disputes, judicial review, and arbitration.
He has represented a wide range of clients—including commercial banks and financial institutions in high-value domestic and cross-border disputes. He has also earned a reputation for “litigation-proofing” commercial transactions and has appeared before the Court of Appeal.
Musiime’s expertise spans strategic litigation, data protection, intellectual property, real estate, and foreign probate matters. Clients rely on him for his deep understanding of legal complexities and client-focused solutions.
In 2022, the Uganda Law Society recognised his outstanding performance with the “Excellence from the Bar” award, while his litigation team at Dentons was named “Litigation Team of the Year.”
He is also a published legal commentator, having authored works such as: “A Commentary on Justice Stephen Mubiru’s Landmark Decision in Barbara Namayega vs Etot Denis & Others” “Judicial Review: A Used or Abused Tool” (presented at the Uganda Law Society Litigation Practice Training, 2021)
In a separate development, a Statutory Instrument dated 11 February 2025 also names Musiime as assistant secretary to the Judicial Tribunal of Inquiry into the conduct of former Supreme court Justice Esther Kisaakye, who currently lives in exile.