The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has formally opened a lawsuit against Suna East MP Junet Mohammed over comments made by the politician and his allies that suggested Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was acting as a tyrant.
Ugandan business executive Paul Bamutaze, who purportedly has close ties to Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM), which has held power for 36 years, filed the lawsuit.
MPs Junet Mohamed (Suna East), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Jared Okelo, Antony Otieno, Fatuma Abdi, and Millie Odhiambo are among the lawmakers listed in the lawsuit (Suba South).
In addition, the complaint includes the Kenyan Attorney General’s Office as a respondent.
The petitioner seeks legal action against the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) officials for sabotaging Uganda’s ruling party.
“Case against ODM MPs utterances against Yoweri Museveni and Muhoozi Kainerugaba kicked off today at the EACJ in Arusha! I wish to retaliate that M7 is an elected Leader and not a dictator as stated by Junet Mohammed and others!
“We shall protect our President Museveni, NRM party, William Ruto (Kenyan President) and the East African Community against such attacks that derail the advancement towards a Political Federation of the EAC! As the EACJ commences hearing into my Matter against the ODM Party. We pray that justice is served,” Mr Bamutaze announced on Tuesday.
He also argued that their actions put to test the unity between Kenya and Uganda.
“You don’t attack the person of the President of the Republic of Uganda. You don’t attack the ruling political because you want to make news.
“Otherwise, that can turn out to be a serious diplomatic blunder,” he notes in the statement.
The fallout stemmed from then Deputy President William Ruto’s aborted trip to the neighbouring country and the subsequent uproar after the arrest of a foreign businessman linked to the trip.
ODM politicians questioned Ruto’s relationship with Museveni. They also attacked Museveni’s government claiming that it had a wanting reputation on the human rights front.
In its response, the NRM Secretary General, Todwong Richard, cautioned the MP and other ODM allies, alleging that they insulted and disrespected Museveni, NRM and Uganda’s sovereign government and its people.
“Honourable Junet, please crosscheck your records so that next time you are better informed as a legislator. Your unfortunate utterances were indeed an indication of possible deep-rooted internal political misunderstandings within your country,” read the NRM statement to Junet.
