The Supreme Court has advised former presidential candidate, Mr Willy Mayambala to get the services of a lawyer to file an application instead of a letter as he did, seeking to inherit the election petition of fellow contender Robert Kyagulanyi challenging President Museveni’s victory.
This is because Section 61 of the Presidential Elections Act demands that the interested presidential candidate can formally file an application not writing a letter, according to the Supreme Court registrar, Ms Harriet Nalukwago Ssali.
“Referrance is made to your of 25th February 2021 whereby you wrote to the Hon Chief Justice for guidance on how to inherit the Petition. Section 61 (2) of the Presidential Elections Act provides that “on hearing of the Application for withdraw any candidate who might have been a petitioner in the respect of the Election to which the petitioner refers may apply to the Court to be substituted as a petitioner for the petitioner who desires to withdraw”. Basing on the above, you are hereby advised to seek the services of a lawyer with a view of filing a formal application,” Ms Ssali wrote on February 25 in response to Mr Mayambala’s letter.
In his letter, Mr Mayambala informed court of his interest in taking over and continuing with the prosecution of petition.
Mr Mayambala says he is objecting to the withdrawal of the poll.
On Monday this week, Mr Kyagulanyi announced at a press conference in Kampala that he had instructed his advocates to withdrawal the poll petition he had filed on February 1, challenging the victory of Mr Yoweri Museveni.
He accused court of bias and frustration among others and said he was instead heading to the court of public opinion.
