By Hannah Marion Namukasa
Uganda’s Supreme Court has on Tuesday evening dismissed an application in which former presidential candidate also National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine sought to amend his petition challenging NRM’ Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory.
Bobi Wine wanted to add new evidence to the election petition challenging NRM’S Museveni’s election victory as the president of Uganda which efforts have been stifled by the panel of nine justices of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo.
In their ruling read by Justice Stella Amoko Arach, court said that the matters which were being raised in the amendments and alleged electoral offences committed are already contained in the main petition.
On the matter of president Museveni’s qualification to stand, court ruled that the matter was brought beyond the time allocated for filing of the petition.
Bobi Wine had sought court’s permission to be allowed to add new evidence to the petition arguing that he was under house arrest for a number of days, that there were several electoral offences committed and that Museveni was not qualified to stand for presidency.
He also wanted to add evidence to the fact that Museveni’s appointment of a new deputy Inspector General of Police, Emyooga presidential initiative on job and wealth creation among others were done illegally.
The ruling hasn’t go down well with Bobi Wine’s lawyers led by Hon. Medard Lubega Ssegona who expressed discontent upon receiving it.
Lawyers however consoled their supporters that all is not lost since they as well have a stronger case in the main application hence they hope for victory at the end.
This implies that court will on Thursday hold a pre-hearing session in order to iron out some matters and also agree on grounds to be determined during the main petition before the hearing begins.