The Supreme Court will on Monday make a ruling on whether to grant amicus curiae to the 9 law lectures seeking to join in the petition in which Hon Amama Mbabazi is challenging the 2016 election results .
“Court will make a legal ruling on whether to grant amicus curiae first thing on Monday,” said Chief Justice Bart Katureebe.
The applicants include; Oloka Onyango, Sylivia Tamale, Christopher Mbazira, Ronald Naluwairo, Rose Nakeyi, Busingye Kabumba, Daniel Ruhweza, Kakungulu Mayambala and Daniel Ngabirano.
All respondents to the petition; Museveni, Electoral Commission and the Attorney General submitted in consensus against court’s granting of amicus citing partialities of some of the applicants.
“I pray that the applicants are not allowed the amicus because they are not friends of the court as they claim. The applicants are biased against the 3rd respondent for failure to make electoral reforms,” said Mwesigwa Rukutana the lead counsel to the petition.
Rukutana who doubles as Deputy Attorney General said that Oloka Onyango’s affidavit is evidence that he has biased interests especially where the latter cites failure of government to implement electoral reforms.
In the submission of Museveni’s lawyers, they made reference to NRM Secretary General Kasule Lumumba’s affidavit which quotes Kabumba (applicant) as having referred to Museveni as ‘a dictator in a suit’.
McDusman Kabega who represents the EC equally pointed out that parties to the application are biased and asked court not to consider it.
Respondent – Amicus are supposed to be confined to law and are not allowed to adduce evidence. They can file affidavits.
However, Robert Kibuka and David Sempala who represent the applicants told court that their clients would make a significant contribution to the petition, given their expertise in constitutional law.
They also questioned failure of previous court recommendations to be implemented by government and its implications to the 2016 elections.
“The issue at hand is whether the past actions influenced the circumstances that preceded the 2016 elections. I pray that amicus is granted considering that an election is a process not an event,” said Kibuka.