by userDue diligence must be carefully exerted by the executive on decisions to decrease the risk of getting into trouble on the basis of Parliament recommendations as was of the former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, during the alleged ‘oil bribery’ scandals that saw a UGX 13 billion compensation being awarded to Mr. Severino Twinobusingye.
by userYoweri Museveni who was re-elected as president in the February 18 polls is set to be served with summon letters requiring him to respond to the election petition that was filed against him by former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi.
According to Maggie Lukowe, Mbabazi’s communications officer, Museveni will be served by a team of lawyers including Severino Twinobusinge and Micheal Akampurira at State House Entebbe at exactly 2.00pm, today.
Court requires that in such rare cases, the respondent is served personally by the petitioners’ lawyers. Therefore, the summons will be handed over to the president and not his representatives, of which he has to confirm receipt.
This follows an election petition filed by Mbabazi on Tuesday this week challenging the declaration of Museveni as the duly elected president, and seeking for nullification of the results.
The petition was filed by Mbabazi against Museveni, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General.
Mbabazi emerged third in the race, managing a dismal performance of 1.5% of votes cast.
SOURCE: ( New Vision story by Betty Amamukirori, 3rd March, 2016 )
by userUganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is facing a legal challenge from former party Secretary-General Amama Mbabazi, who was ousted in a party vote December 15.
The NRM voted to replace him with Justine Kasule Lumumba, who is expected to report for duty January 1.
But Mbabazi, a former prime minister, has gone to court to challenge his removal. His lawyer, Severino Twinobusingye, said his client intends to serve out his full five-year term, which expires in July.
“He was elected for a five-year term of office by the appropriate organ of the party, and he has to serve that term of office for five years until July next year. He is still the secretary-general,” he said.
Twinobusingye said political parties in Uganda are governed by the Political Parties and Organizations Act, which was made pursuant to the provisions of the Ugandan constitution.
He said the constitution precedes the ouster of Mbabazi.
“As a result, these matters are in the Constitutional Court of Uganda, and it is not possible that anybody can stop him (Mbabazi) from coming back to start his duty come first of January 2015. What they did, I think, was an exercise in futility. It is not good for the rule of law,” he said.
Twinobusingye said he’s confident the Constitutional Court will demonstrate its independence by siding with his client.
“I have absolutely 100 percent confidence in the judicial system of Uganda. Our judiciary is independent, and we are 100 percent certain that they will determine this case to its logical conclusion. We do not see it being done any other way,” Twinobusingye said.
Ugandan courts are currently on their Christmas break and are expected resume their duties next month. Twinobusingye hopes the court will expedite Mbabazi’s case.
“What is very important is that constitutional matters under Ugandan jurisprudence take precedence over all other matters of the court. So, whatever matters are pending in the courts have to be suspended. And, it is extremely critical that it is handled and done expeditiously because it affects the rights of everyone in Uganda,” he said.
Twinobusingye said he does not expect confrontation because Ugandans are peaceful and understand what Mbabazi is going through.
He also said President Yoweri Museveni cannot order Mbabazi’s arrest because both men were both elected to serve out their five-year terms of office.
“I don’t think that cannot happen because the president, who is the party chairman, knows that the current secretary general was elected to serve five years. He was elected the same day the party chairman, Yoweri Museveni, was elected. The party chairman is going to serve for five years. The secretary general, who was also elected with him, is also going to serve his term of office for five years,” Twinobusingye said.