City lawyer Muwada Nkunyingi, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has insisted that he wants the Electoral Commission (EC) to avail him with President Museveni’s academic documents and not paragraphs that explain his candidature.
Nkunyingi, in an August 21, 2020 letter had earlier asked the Electoral Commission to avail him with academic documents Museveni used to contest in the 2016 presidential elections as required by the Presidential Elections Act 2005.
In its response almost a month letter, the electoral body told the lawyer that President Museveni’s nomination in the 2016 presidential elections did not require verification.
While addressing the public shortly after receiving EC's response, Nkunyingi said that what he asked for were academic documents and not paragraphs to explain President Museveni’s candidature.
Nkunyingi said: "The Electoral Commission should play an observatory role. They should have explained that to themselves and gave me what I asked for."
In its response, the EC had mentioned that President Museveni’s papers are governed under Section 4 (15) of the Presidential Elections Act 2005 (as amended).
The section states that if a candidate who has an advanced level certificate obtained in Uganda or qualifications higher than the prescribed qualification obtained in Uganda or obtained from the former University of East Africa or any of its constituent colleges, then, there shall be no need for the verification of his or her qualifications by the National Institute of Higher Education.
Nkunyingi however said that what he wants are academic documents of a candidate, as stated in the Access to Information Act of 2005.
"I could have got that explanation from any lawyer that I trust. What EC should do, is to avail me with papers," Nkunyingi insisted.
The lawyer said that when Male Mabirizi, another controversial lawyer asked for documents of candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, the EC availed him with them in four days.
"The Access to Information Act doesn't mention that we can't access documents of the incumbent. We should all be treated fairly," Nkunyingi added.