Election petition hearing begins against Museveni victory

Uganda’s Supreme Court on Monday began hearing a legal challenge to last month’s election that saw President Yoweri Museveni win a fifth term.

Amama Mbabazi, who emerged third in the just concluded elections, submitted a legal petition two weeks ago challenging the February 18 vote result.

Court, ahead of ruling on whether CSOs and MUK law dons should be allowed to join Amama Mbabazi's poll petition. pic.twitter.com/qh6jd5n4QC

— Nduhukire (@Snduhukire) March 14, 2016

Some of the issues they differed on included whether the petitioner is entitled to preliminary relief for the vote recount in the areas indicated in the petition.

The petitioner further questioned whether the electoral board relied on any results from the polling stations to declare Museveni the rightful winner.

The opposition also questioned the validity of the voters list.

Uganda’s main opposition leader, Kiza Besigye, was arrested on many occasions, that included before and after the elections.

His representatives condemned the act and claimed that it prevented him from collecting more evidence to file a legal challenge.

The hearing is to be completed this week with Uganda’s nine Supreme Court judges to rule on the challenge by the end of this month.