Mbabazi election petition: Court sets Monday to rule on amicus curiae
Mar 12, 2016
On March 9 and 10 this week, nine Makerere University school of law lecturers and nine Civil Society Organizations, respectively, applied to court to be allowed to join the petition.
The Supreme Court has set Monday 14, to rule whether election observers and Makerere University law dons should be allowed to join Amama Mbabazi's poll petition.
This was after hearing the submissions of the lawyers representing president-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Electoral Commission on whether it should allow the seven CSOs and nine Makerere law dons to join the poll petition or not. Both parties filed their application as amicus curiae (friends of court)
In their submissions, the lawyers wanted court to dismiss both applications for amicus curiae with costs, since the parties did not come as an independent body.
They supported their argument with an affidavit filed by the secretary general Kasule Lumumba.
Eletorial Commission lawyer, Macdusman Kabega speaks during the hearing
On March 9 and 10 this week, nine Makerere University school of law lecturers and nine Civil Society Organizations, respectively, applied to court to be allowed to join the petition.
"We have reviewed the elections and also looked at the responses and we think that there are certain issues that we need to bring to the attention of the court. We think our expertise can assist the court in coming to a just conclusion," Assoc. Prof. Christopher Mbazira who is one of the applicants, said.
Others on the application are Prof. Oloka-Onyango, the lead applicant, Prof. Sylivia Tamale, Dr. Ronald Naluwaire, Dr. Rose Nakayi, Dr. Busingye Kabumba, Daniel Ruhweza, Dr. kakungulu Mayambala and Daniel Ngabirano.
"The applicants possess valuable expertise, specific information about the conduct of the 2016 elections that will offer a unique contribution for the resolution of the issues before court," read the application filed by the civil society.
They include, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda), Chapter Four Uganda, Human Rights Network Uganda, Center for Constitutional Governance, Kituo Cha Katiba- Eastern Africa Center for Constitutional Development, Legal Aid Service Providers Network Uganda and Transparency International.
President Museveni's lawyer, Hussein Kashillingi chats with Pro Oloka Onyango before the court session
Prof. Oloka Onyango greets the Deputy Attorney General, Mwesigwa Rukutana before the court session