Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, the President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has strongly criticized Uganda’s Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, for what he terms as the judiciary’s complicity in political persecution. Bobi Wine’s remarks follow the Chief Justice’s response to allegations made at the burial of Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya, where Kyagulanyi accused the judiciary of contributing to Ssegirinya’s death by denying him bail despite his deteriorating health.
In a detailed statement, Bobi Wine questioned the Chief Justice’s selective responses, accusing him of ignoring critical issues like the ongoing trial of civilians in military courts and the judiciary’s failure to act on appeals against such practices. He pointed out the judiciary’s alleged bias, highlighting cases where opposition figures like Ssegirinya and novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija faced harsh treatment, while members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) received preferential treatment.
Bobi Wine further accused Owiny-Dollo of using his position to deny justice in the aftermath of the 2021 presidential election, where Kyagulanyi challenged the results. He cited the alleged persecution of a dissenting judge who fled the country and questioned the judiciary’s impartiality under Owiny-Dollo’s leadership.
Kyagulanyi called on the judiciary to stop the trial of civilians in military courts and to uphold its constitutional mandate to deliver justice impartially. He criticized the judiciary’s failure to grant bail to Hon. Ssegirinya despite his health condition, attributing this to directives from President Museveni.
The NUP leader concluded by urging the Chief Justice to restore public trust in the judiciary through concrete actions rather than selective rhetoric.
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