The Judiciary has deployed at least 32 senior judges to handle 155 election petitions across the country according to the Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija. The hearing of the petitions is set to commence on August 16th ,2021.
The Judiciary Public Relations Officer, Jamson Karemani, however declined to name the judges saying that unscrupulous politicians could attempt to bribe them.
Karemani said that if the names of the judges were released , many fraudsters could take advantage and solicit money from the unsuspecting members of the public..
While addressing the media Karemani said that the Judiciary received 104 petitions related to the election of Members of Parliament and several others from Local Council Government elections.
The Judiciary has allocated UG.Shs.1.2 billion to hear the petitions within 30 days as stipulated in the laws of Uganda. He revealed that Mbale High Court Circuit has 31 petitions, the highest number and therefore has been allocated six Judges, followed by Jinja Circuit with four Judges and Civil Division which has been merged with Luwero Circuit to have 4 Judges.
Fort Portal High Court has been allocated three Judges, Gulu, Mukono, Mpigi, Kabale and Lira High courts one judge each. Masaka, Masindi, Mbarara and Soroti High Courts have been allocated two judges each.
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“Only parties to the petitions, Advocates and Witnesses specifically summoned shall attend Court. Where the parties and Advocates in a single election Petition exceed 10 in number, the trial Judge shall use Audio Visual facilities where it exists or use open space where possible”, read the directive in part.
