Kampala– The Supreme Court is poised to determine whether the Chairperson of the Uganda Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, will be summoned to account for alleged irregularities in the last presidential election.
The decision, expected on February 18, follows submissions by lawyers representing Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, led by Julius Galisonga, who argue that Justice Byabakama is a crucial witness in the ongoing presidential election petition.
A nine-member panel of justices, chaired by Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, is also scheduled later this week to rule on whether the Electoral Commission should be compelled to produce documents relating to polling stations used during the election.
The petitioners contend that approximately 16,000 polling stations were unlawfully included in the electoral process despite being non-existent, a claim they say undermines the credibility of the election results.
In response, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka told court that the government is awaiting concrete evidence from the petitioners to substantiate allegations of un-gazetted polling stations.
Kasibante is seeking the nullification of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory, citing alleged electoral malpractices including the involvement of the military in the electoral process, failure of biometric voter verification machines, vote rigging, and other irregularities.
