KAMPALA — Mr. Paul Bamutuze, the Chief Executive Officer, East Africa Book of Records also a Member of the National Resistance Movement has dragged a section of Kenyan Members of Parliament to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) over damning utterances about the person of Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni.
Early this week, Kenyan Members of Parliament claimed their Deputy President William Ruto was working around the clock to import into Kenya, Uganda’s ruling party —NRM —election fraud and stealing methods including seeking President Museveni’s help to employ the dubious tactics the NRM has used to keep him in power for 35 years.
Led by National Assembly Minority leader John Mbadi and Minority chief whip Junet Mohamed, the legislators raised concerns about the Ruto’s frequent visits to Kampala and his dalliance with Mr. Museveni, whom accused of employing dubious tactics including terrorising opponents to remain in power.
“While we do not wish to interfere with internal political arrangements in other countries, we equally want to state that we do not need to borrow from other countries political habits whose end result can only lead to chaos and backwardness of our country,” Junet said.
They also alleged that Mr. Ruto, in his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, is being helped by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to forge a lifetime presidency.
“The NRM record on human rights is not worth borrowing from. The NRM record on democracy is not worth borrowing… even worse, the NRM is a party of lifetime presidency,” Junet read a joint statement by the MPs, terming Ruto’s recent travel embarrassment a “sympathy seeking circus”.
“NRM is a party that has kept someone in power for 35 years,” added Junet.
Now, Bamutuze through his attorneys of Nsubuga K.S & Co. Advocates in a case filed Friday August 6, 2021 claims the Kenyan MPs trushed NRM, saying nothing from Uganda is worthy borrowing.
“The statements are demeaning. Uganda has been at the forefront of the East African Integration and utterances are a clear sign that these legislators are against the integration process,” his lawyer told reporters in Kololo.
The lawyers also claim that statements are a direct infringement on the fundamental and operational principles of the Community which include good governance as well as adherence to principles of democracy.
He wants regional court to declare that the said statements were illegal and against principles of mutual cooperation and good governance, and for the respondents to pay him costs.
