Elections reflected the will of the people - Museveni
Apr 01, 2016
I salute the people of Uganda and the State Institutions of Uganda
President Yoweri Museveni has said he is not surprised that the judges found that the general elections held on the 18th of February reflected the will of the people.
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the presidential poll petition filed by former premier Amama Mbabazi, challenging the outcome of the polls.
Mbabazi filed his petition on March 1, 2016 seeking a court declaration that President-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was not validly elected and that the presidential results that the Electoral Commission (EC) boss, Badru Kiggundu, declared on February 20, were null and void.
"The first respondent was validly elected. This petition is dismissed. It is not necessary to order for a recount in the 44 districts," Chief Justice Bart Katureebe said as he read out the judgment.
Mbabazi also wanted court to order a vote recount in 44 districts where he alleged that there was massive vote rigging.
Below is the statement;
"The lawyers normally talk of "reasonable men" when referring to what people can believe or otherwise. As the Monitor newspaper, notwithstanding your nature, would realize, Judges are "reasonable men and women" plus, plus.
That is how they become Judges in the First Place. I am not surprised, therefore, that they found that the General Elections held on the 18th of February, reflected the will of the people of Uganda.
In fact, the NRM scored more votes but many of them were suppressed as invalid votes - almost 5% of the total votes cast. We did not bother to complain about this because we had enough votes to decisively win. Why inconvenience Ugandans with unnecessary altercation?
It also shows how institutions of the state have grown and recovered from the problems of the 1960s, 70s and early 1980s.
I salute the people of Uganda and the State Institutions of Uganda. I also salute the NRM fraternity for their efforts during the whole electoral cycle."
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
CHAIRMAN NRM AND PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
31st March, 2016