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Ugandan court hears petition challenging presidential poll result

Xinhua, March 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Uganda's Supreme Court on Monday began the preliminary hearing of a petition challenging President Yoweri Museveni's victory in the Feb. 18 polls.

Nine judges will hear the case in which former opposition presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi seeks to nullify the poll results citing alleged flawed electoral process.

Mbabazi also sued the Attorney General and the electoral commission in the case, while Museveni has filed a response saying he is ready for the court battle.

The hearing is expected to last 30 days.

However analysts believe it is very unlikely for the court to annul the election results at the expense of holding another election and possibly sparking clashes.

It is not the first time Museveni, who has been in power for over 30 years, has faced a court case over elections.

His closed rival in the February vote, Kizza Besigye, who has run against him and lost for four times, challenged election results in 2001 and 2006. In both cases, rulings say whereas there were malpractices, they were not substantial enough to annul the election results.

Tensions are currently high between the government and the opposition as Besigye, leader of the Forum for Democratic Change party, remains placed under house arrest.

Police accuse Besigye of having a plan to hire "goons" to cause violence in the capital Kampala -- an allegation he denies.

Security is tight in Kampala as armed police and the military continue to patrol the streets. Endit