President Yoweri Museveni has come out and embraced the Former National Unity Platform Presidential (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine’s public court and made his submissions.
On Thursday 14th January, 2021, the Electoral Commission conducted presidential elections where Ugandans exercised their constitutional rights of choosing a president who will lead them through a five year term. Uganda has a total 18,103,603 registered voters and 34,684 polling stations however only 10,350,819 people turned up to vote.
The presidential election which comprised 11 candidates was won by President Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa Kaguta who got 6,042,898 (58.38%). His closest opponent Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu got 3,631,437 votes (35.08%).
Last week, the singer withdrew the presidential election petition from the Supreme Court after its registrar declined to receive his evidence. The MP was challenging President Yoweri Museveni’s victory on grounds that the election was not free and fair. He in tandem failed the matter in ‘court of public opinion’ and asked Ugandans to preside over it.
During the hearing, Bobi tabled box files containing over 20,000 declaration of result forms of the 34,684. The singer said he won the election despite the intimidation, arrests and torture of his supporters.
“From the DR forms in our possession, it is clear that we won the election with 54.19% of the total valid votes cast. We won the January 14, 2021 election. The Special Forces Command (SFC) soldiers wearing Electoral Commission t-shirts and caps stood side by side with Byabakama as he read Election results. We even saw him stammering in fear as he read out the winner,” Bobi Wine submitted.
“I call upon all people to rise up and demonstrate against what he dubbed as stolen victory and the continuous kidnappings of Ugandans by the security operatives. We demand for unconditional release of his supporters and Party members who were arrested and detained before.” he told court of public opinion
And last Sunday, President Museveni made televised submissions before the honourable court. He told ‘court’ that Bobi Wine and his group rigged massively. Despite, the rigging, Mr. Museveni said he won the election.
“It is the opposition especially this group of Kyagulanyi which cheated massively in the 2021 elections through ballot-stuffing in Kampala and other parts of Uganda where we had a weak organization,” Museveni said.
“People who rigged elections on the contrary were from NUP. All this is documented. I couldn’t comment on a matter in court but now it’s out. Some of the police officers were being bribed during campaigns, for instance people putting on yellow were attacked by NUP supporters but the Police did nothing.” Museveni told ‘court’ adding that there’s a plot by the opposition to stop the swearing in ceremony.
“I can assure you that the opposition will not stop the swearing in ceremony of the President. They plan all sorts of crazy things. If we get evidence on that, we shall come for you,” he added.
And today, Bobi Wine has asked the president to avail evidence that they rigged. He also called for auditing of the results saying that truth and facts tend to escape the president’s mouth.
The presiding judges on social media are since doubting the president’s submissions noting that he was in charge of the country and all election processes, how did the rigging happen?
Court adjourned and another session will begin on notice.
