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Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has threatened to withdraw an electoral petition against President Yoweri Museveni, citing “bias” and “frustration” from the Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected Mr. Kyagulanyi’s additional evidence in more than 120 affidavits sworn by senior members of his National Unity Platform (NUP) party and close friends in support of the petition.
The Court said that these were presented one day late. The court had set a February 14 deadline for the presentation of evidence.
Addressing reporters at his party’s Kampala offices on Tuesday, Mr. Kyagulanyi, flanked by senior party leaders, said that if such frustrations from the Court persist, they will be forced to withdraw the petition.
“We have been gathering evidence and more are coming in, but the Supreme Court has rejected 250 affidavits that we filed yesterday (February 15) even though the petition hearing has not started. We want to warn the Supreme Court that if this persists, we will not be part of that mockery, the next step is to take the matter to the public court, “Kyagulanyi said Tuesday.
The court’s rejection of new evidence from Mr. Kyagulanyi’s camp is the second blow for them since they filed the petition.
Last week, a panel of nine judges dismissed his request to amend the lawsuit and include new grounds, noting that the issues he intended to add to the petition had already been included in the original.
Mr. Kyagulanyi also wants the composition of the Tribunal to be changed. Of the nine judges chosen to hear the petition, Mr. Kyagulanyi wants three of them to abstain from the hearing, arguing that they have close ties to President Museveni, who is the first respondent in the petition.
He appointed the Chief Justice of Uganda, Alphonso Owinyi-Dollo, who was on the Museveni defense team during the 2006 election petition hearing filed against Museveni’s victory by former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye.
He also named Mike Chibita, who was Museveni’s private secretary for seven years, and Ezekiel Muhanguzi, a relative of Security Minister Elly Tumwine.
Mr. Kyagulanyi’s petition urges the court to annul the recently concluded general election, citing widespread irregularities and negligence. He wants the Court to order new elections.
The country’s Electoral Commission announced Museveni the winner of the January 14, 2021 elections with 58.64 percent of the votes. Kyagulanyi came in second with 34.83 percent.
