The High Court in Kampala has deferred the delivery of the much-awaited ruling in the ownership of National Unity and Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP), to Wednesday next week.
NUP, currently under the leadership of presidential aspirant, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was acquired in on July 14, 2020.
Bobi Wine’s leadership of the party however came under scrutiny when two of its founders; Mr Difas Basile and Mr Hassan Twala, petitioned the High Court in Kampala contending that Mr. Kibalama and EC illegally changed their party’s name to NUP and illegally handed over its political leadership to Bobi Wine.
The petitioners claim that the founding president of the party, Mr. Moses Nkonge Kibalama, changed its name and transferred its leadership to Bobi Wine without their knowledge and consent.
At the last hearing on September 25, the presiding judge, Mr. Musa Ssekaana, said he would give his ruling today to resolve the controversy over the name and its leadership. However, Judiciary’s spokesperson Jameson Karemani revealed that the ruling is not ready for delivery today.
“The judge has said, the ruling will not take place as anticipated because the parties filed their submissions on Tuesday. It was not humanly possible for him to read through the submissions and deliver the decision tomorrow (today) as slated,” Mr Karemani told our reporter.
The new date for the ruling is Wednesday next week and this will be done by way of e-mail so there is no need of the litigants to come to court physically, according to Mr. Muyita.
The petitioners contend that it was illegal to change their party name without their consent and are seeking deregistration of NUP.
Bobi Wine is jointly sued with NUP party, Mr Kibalama, Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, Ms Aisha Kabanda, NUP spokesperson Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, Ms Flavia Kalule Nabagabe, Mr Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, and the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General.
The petitioners are further seeking for a court declaration that the resolution of May 12, 2017 nominating Bobi Wine as the NUP presidential flag bearer for the 2021 general elections, is illegal and in contravention of the party constitution.
Justice Ssekaana also denied social media allegations that his life is in danger for presiding over the said highly political case.
At the last hearing, while being cross-examined, when Kibalama was put to task to say who the leader of NUP, he said it is Bobi Wine who he said was elected by a delegates’ conference in Kakiri. Kibalama also told that upon handing over the party to Bobi Wine and group, he has since been sidelined.
