Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has joined a list of other country presidents to congratulate the newly elected president, Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has joined a list of other country presidents to congratulate the newly elected president, Yoweri Museveni Tibuhaburwa on his victory in the just-concluded elections.
In a letter dated February 01, the prime minister said that he hopes to see the ties between the two countries even growing further.
“Congratulations on your re-election as President of Uganda. In recent years, the ties between our two countries have become stronger and I am confident that through the joint efforts of our governments Israeli-Ugandan cooperation will continue to expand,” the prime minister’s statement read.
“I wish you much success as you begin your new term in office and I look forward to further enhancing our relations for the mutual benefit of both our countries,” it added.
Meanwhile, the January 14 presidential polls saw Museveni claim victory over 10 other candidates scooping up to 58.38% from 6,042,898 votes while NUP’s Kyagulanyi came second with 35.08%.
His win has, however, since caused mixed reactions from a section of Ugandans including the National Unity Platform party president who recently petitioned the court to order for reelection insisting that the polls were marred with injustices and unfairness.
“The election was invalid on grounds that it was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the provision of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the Presidential Elections Act and the Electoral Commission Act,” part of Kyagulanyi’s petition read.
During Tuesday’s court hearing, the court denied an application from Kyagulanyi’s lawyers who were seeking more time to pile enough evidence to be used as justice in court.
Kyagulanyi’s lawyers led by Medard Sseggona told the court that their client was under house arrest immediately after the January 14 polls which denied him the chance of gathering enough evidence to justify his vote-rigging claims.
“After the election, the petitioner was placed under house arrested and only managed to get out after an order of the High Court. By the time he got out, he was left with only five days to gather evidence. That was therefore a disability factor,” Sseggona said.
“How do you conduct an inquiry into an election when some evidence is left out yet it could have been brought to the attention of the court? The only way the credibility of the presidency can be checked is by allowing such an application,” he added.
However, in response, the court said no to their application justifying that the matters raised came outside the time allocated for filling of the petition.
“This court finds that the matters raised in the proposed amendment and the alleged committed electoral offences are already pleaded for in the petition. Court also finds that the issue of the qualification of the first respondent is a matter which came outside the time allocated for filing of the petition,” Justice Stella Amoko Arach read the ruling on Tuesday.
