By Our Reporter

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, the leader of National Unity Platform (NUP), has declared that he will go to court to challenge president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory in the January 14^th presidential election.

Speaking to the press on phone Bobi Wine, who has been under house arrest since Friday January 15^th, 2021, said that he is ready to drag the Electoral Commission (EC) and Museveni to court  challenging the latter’s victory.

According to election results announced by the E.C chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on Saturday January 16, 2021,  president elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, of the National Resistance Movement  scored 5,300,831 votes (58%)  whereas his nemesis Bobi Wine polled ,119,965 votes (34.62%).

They contested together with other candidates that include Alliance for National Transform (NUP)’s Mugisha Muntu Gregory, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Patrick Amuriat Oboi,  Democratic Party’s Norbert Mao, plus independents who included Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Nancy Kalembe, John Katumba, Willy Mayambala, Joseph Kabuleta and Fred Mwesigye.

However, Bobi Wine insists that these are sham results, because they differ greatly from those compiled by NUP polling agents across the  country which indicate that he won president Yoweri Museveni by far.

“I therefore take this painful but nonetheless inevitable leadership decision of urging you to desist from any form of violence as we prepare to challenge the election outcome & its glaring imperfections through the courts of law for the sake of our longterm victory & for Uganda.

“We are going to audit because on account of the removal of the internet there was no immediate transmission of the voting patterns from polling stations,” Bobi Wine’s deputy Mathias Mpuuga said on Sunday during a press briefing at the NUP headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala.

In support of Bobi Wine’s position, his fellow presidential contender Rtd. Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has since joined him in rejecting the election results and vowed to combine forces in challenging Museveni’s victory in court.

“It’s time to turn the page and engage in the next stage of the struggle. We will not live like serfs in our own country,” Mugisha Muntu said on Twitter shortly after the announcement was made.

“These results are completely fabricated,” he added.

Prior to the election last week  the government ordered telecommunication companies to shut down the internet on the eve of the polls, and the blackout remained in place till Monday when internet was switched back on.

In Kampala, shortly before the results were announced, security forces poured onto the streets of the capital in large numbers, while others raided and sealed off Bobi Wine’s home to  block anyone from leaving or accessing the residence.

U.S Condemns Army, Police Brutality

Meanwhile, the United States of America has condemned the police and army brutality  meted out unto Bobi Wine and his supporters, saying it is “deeply troubled” by events in Uganda, noting that voters cast their ballots in an environment of “intimidation and fear”.

“We are deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls,” Morgan Ortagus, the State Department’s spokesperson, said in a statement late on Saturday.

“We strongly urge independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into these reports and that those responsible be held accountable.

“We condemn the continuing attacks on political candidates and urge the government to respect their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression,” Ortagus added.

It should be noted too that both the U.S. and Britain expressed concern over the validity of the election results, noting the internet blackout throughout Uganda since before the Election Day.