Fellow citizens, In regards to the Election Petition and its ruling earlier today, I would like to state that going to court was the right thing to do. I personally urged that the rule of law, particularly judicial recourse, be exploited to the fullest from the moment election results were announced on 20th February. Mr. Besigye, having already predicted what would happen, and having filed previous petitions (2001 & 2006), should have been best prepared for this eventuality more than anyone else. Unfortunately he already rejected the possibility last year during campaigns when he proclaimed: "This time we shall not go to court." Surprisingly, he then first tried to gather declaration forms and evidence, but then later sat to watch court proceedings and the final ruling. Honestly on this specific issue, Mr. Mbabazi, whom I actually rate less then Besigye, has shown more statesmanship, patience and procedural compliance than anyone else. Even though he clearly could not have won the February 18th election, the petition was a critical juncture for the nation to cross. That is leadership. One thing that Ugandans and the country's partners are observing is that both the Supreme Court and the Electoral Commission, both the Chief Justice and the EC Chairman, and both their final declarations, completely lack impartiality and both are partisan. The result is that without credibility, there is still no victory. The people of Uganda, though disgruntled, are already busy back to work, and taking their children to and from school. With this economy, they don't have the time to stagnate in clogged politics. Some might prefer seeing a "lame duck" run around the country. As I already stated previously, at this point there is no alternative to national healing and unity. That is something that even the Supreme Court can't provide. It's the leaders who now have to unite.
Hussein Lumumba Amin.
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