EC wants NUP’s election petition thrown out of court
By Ruth Anderah
The Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has asked the Supreme Court to throw out a presidential election petition filed by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi against incumbent President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni Kaguta for being incompetent as it was filed out of the prescribed mandated time frame.
According to the law, a presidential poll must be filed 14 days after the declaration of results.
Through Kampala Associated advocates and Okello Oryem advocates justice Byabakama has also exonerated President Museveni of committing any Electoral offences as alleged by Kyagulanyi in his petition which would warrant a nullification of this election.
Justice Byabakama contends the Electoral process was free and fair and that if there were any irregularities, they were minor and did not affect the result of the election in any substantial manner.
Justice Byabakama says the complaint in Kyagulanyi’s petition that his campaign meetings were frustrated and blocked was because he would hold rallies in ungazatted places without following ministry of Health guidelines and standing procedures on the spread of Covid -19 .
On the allegation of switching off internet and disabling Kyagulanyi’s U-vote application , Byabakama denies knowledge of the same instead maintaining that he is the Electoral commission chairperson who is mandated to announce and publish the official results of the election .
EC boss stresses that the body in the previous election acted independently and was never under the control or subject of president Museveni or any other candidate.
