By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Ntare Edens Rutaro, a concerned citizen from Ruhama,Ntungamo District, home district to First lady Janate Kataaha Museveni has dragged to Court Kyadondo East Legislator Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, Joel Ssenyonyi (PRO) both members of People Power and Rtd.Col.Dr.Kizza Besigye of Forum for democratic change (FDC)for operating People Power movement and People’s government respectively without legal registration.
Rutaro, through his lawyers of M/s Newmark Advocates petitioned the constitutional court on July 6,2019 accusing the above of taking part in political activities without officially being registered as political parties.
According to the Petitioner, the actions of 1 and 2 respondents, in establishing an unregistered political organization/ party, under name(s) and style(s) of “People Power Movement”, “People Power-Uganda” & “People Power” used interchangeably and mobilizing political activities and membership with a view of influencing political process, sponsoring a political agenda and offering a platform to candidates for election to political offices and participating in governance are a reserve of duly registered political parties and organizations and in contravention of Article 72(2) of the Constitution of Uganda 1995 and by reason whereof the Petitioner is aggrieved, interested in and seeks the following declarations,” says Rutaro in his petitions.
The petitioner wants a declaration that the actions of the first and second respondents (Bobi Wine and Besigye) in establishing, running and mobilizing political activities with a national structure are a reserve of political organizations and therefore their actions are inconsistent with and in contravention of article 72(2) of the provisions of the constitution of Uganda 1995.
Declarations of Rutaro’s petition
The petitioner who says he is an ardent believer in the rule of law and
constitutionalism also wants the court to declare that failure by the Attorney
General through his established structures to halt the activities of the People
Power movement and the People’s government is an abdication of a constitutional
mandate and therefore inconsistent with the constitution
“Structures of the executive in failing to halt the activities of both unlawful
organizations People Power Movement, The People’s Government) is an abdication
of a constitutional mandate, and therefore inconsistent with and in
contravention of Article 72 of the Constitution of Uganda.”
The Petition came at a time when Ugandan pop star and opposition legislator Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine formally launched his presidential bid for the 2021 election on Wednesday 24 July 2019, calling the country’s longtime leader a dictator urging him to hold credible polls.
The 37-year-old lawmaker leading a popular movement known as “People Power” emerged as a political threat to one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, appealing to many among the country’s booming young population who are frustrated with unemployment and the slow pace of change.
