Daily Monitor
Wednesday February 24 2021
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo yesterday declined to step aside from hearing the presidential election petition filed by Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, challenging President Museveni’s election.
Mr Male Mabirizi, a lawyer, had filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo to withdraw from hearing the presidential election petition against Mr Museveni on account of conflict of interest.
Mr Mabirizi said the Chief Justice was President Museveni’s defence lawyer in the 2006 presidential petition, and thus cannot be impartial in this petition.
“I have perused the application and the supporting affidavits and listened carefully to the submissions by the applicant (Mr Mabirizi). I decline to recuse. The reasons I will give in my detailed ruling to be delivered on notice,” Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo ruled.
Daily Monitor
Wednesday February 17 2021
Deputy Chief Justice Richard Butera (right) being sworn in at State House Entebbe on September 8, 2020. PHOTO / PPU
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A group of concerned citizens has asked High Court in Kampala to order Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera to immediately vacate his office, arguing that the process of his appointment was tainted with irregularities, hence unconstitutional.
The petitioners contend that President Museveni usurped the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed Justice Buteera as Deputy Chief Justice and yet there was no such a vacancy at the time.
Justice Buteera’s appointment is being challenged by a group of four concerned citizens and a human rights watchdog, Citizen Alert Foundation.
Daily Monitor
Monday February 15 2021
Mr Kyagulanyi in a police mobile jail after he was arrested in Luuka District during campaigns last year. PHOTO / FILE.
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When the Supreme Court reconvened on Thursday morning for a pre-trial session of a petition in which former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, is challenging President Museveni’s recent electoral victory, Mr Kyagulanyi’s lawyers had a quick, honest confession: They weren’t ready.
“Some of our witnesses who would have sworn in affidavits have been arrested,” Mr Medard Lubega Sseggona, Mr Kyagulanyi’s lead lawyer of the day, explained to the penal of nine Justices led by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo.
Mr Kyagulanyi’s legal team is seen as generally lightweight, the petitioner appears short on resources and the effort to assemble a formidable petition seems to have been significantly hampered.
Daily Monitor
Sunday January 31 2021
NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi is blocked by security operatives from accessing Kasese Town where he was scheduled to address a campaign rally on November 25 last year.PHOTO/FILE
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National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, has notified the Supreme Court that he will file a petition challenging the re-election of President Museveni tomorrow, the Judiciary has confirmed.
This will be the fourth time President Museveni’s election will be challenged, the previous occasions being 2001, 2006 and 2016.
Commenting about the development, Judiciary spokesperson Jameson Karemani said: “It is true Mr Kyagulanyi’s lawyers had written to the court to allow them to file their petition today (Saturday) but the Chief Justice advised that they file it on Monday.”