Reported by
FARIDAH N KULUMBA
Africa-Press – Uganda. Ugandan Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine filed his presidential election petition to the Supreme Court, after declining the 2021 electoral commission’s results.
Kyagulanyi through his lawyers led by Medard Ssegona appeared on court while carrying bundles of files, which they said that they contain the proof of vote rigging and malpractices in 2021 election.
Ssegona revealed that in the petition filed, they asked court to nullify the 2021 elections and to order for fresh elections without the incumbent Yoweri Museveni participating in it.
“We want permanent injunction restraining Tibuhaburwa from participating in any Ugandan election because his violent, and he openly and proudly said that his the master of violence.
We want army restrained from participating in the elections.
We want election to be declared nullity.
And we want court to order for fresh election.” Said Ssegona while talking to our AFP reporter.
Ugandan general elections took place on the 14th January 2021, and the following day Bobi Wine and his wife were put under house arrest when hundreds of military surrounded his home for more than two weeks.
After the presidential election results were declared on January 16th 2021 by the Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, declaring incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa 75 years the winner with 58.64 percent against Kyagulanyi 38 years with 34.85 percent amid internet block out.
Bobi Wine also the leader of National Unity Platform party (NUP) on the 17th January while under house arrest challenged the Electoral Commission’s results saying that it was his victory being snatched and given to Museveni who did not deserve it.
“We have evidence of ballot stuffing and other forms of election malpractice that we will reveal to the world after the internet restoration and we are ready to go to court” said Mathias Mpuuga member of National Unity Platform while addressing the press.
The Uganda Constitution under article 104 state that presidential candidate should file their petition in the Supreme court up to 15 days after the declaration of results.
What is the grounds of Bobi Wine’s legal team?
According to his lead lawyer Ssegona he said that they have proof of videos from across the country where soldiers invaded poling stations with pre-ticked ballots which they stuffed in the boxes.
He also added that the electoral process turned in a war situation, a situation of terror.
Meanwhile the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party of the accused Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is also in full gear preparing to face Bobi Wine before the judges.
While addressing the media, the NRM secretary general Ms Justine Kasule Lumumba revealed that they had assembled a legal team to defend the victory of the incumbent Museveni Tibuhaburwa.
“We have heard of somebody going to court. As a party we have all our declaration forms from all the polling stations. Our legal team is ready to defend our candidate’s victory when we are served we shall respond.” Said Lumumba.
According to the Uganda constitution, court has to give its judgement within 60 days after the declaration of the winner.
What is expected to happen?
If the Supreme Court judges in favour of Bobi Wine, it means that the Electoral Commission will have to organise a fresh election within 20 days from the date of a nullity.
But if Bobi Wine’s legal team looses the case, the incumbent Tibuhaburwa will be sworn in in May 2020 according to the Uganda constitution.
