“KEEP QUIET, AM OLDER THAN YOU!” - Lawyers Clash in Mukono High Court. #bobiwine #breakingnews

A tense exchange unfolded at the High Court in Mukono during the hearing of an election petition filed by former State Minister for Water Ronald Kibuule against Mukono North MP Abdullah Kiwanuka of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Kibuule is challenging Kiwanuka’s election victory and seeking a court order for a recount of the votes. Proceedings became heated when counsel Asuman Basalirwa, representing Kiwanuka, clashed with Kibuule’s lawyer, Frank Akandiho, during questions concerning witness Murushid Tebuseeke, who was presented by Kibuule’s legal team. The exchange escalated, prompting security personnel assigned to the judge to move closer as tensions rose. Basalirwa reportedly challenged Akandiho, telling him to leave court if he had come while drunk. Presiding judge Godfrey Himbaza intervened and urged the lawyers to calm down, after which proceedings resumed. Basalirwa later apologised to court users over the disruption. The witness also faced difficult questions about his sworn statement. When asked whether he knew Kibuule, Tebuseeke reportedly said yes. However, when shown a newspaper photograph said to depict Kibuule alongside a person in court, he said the image and the person present did not appear to match, adding that he could not confirm the name published alongside the photograph. Kibuule had presented 16 witnesses for the day, but only three had testified by the time proceedings ended. The hearing is scheduled to resume the following day with the remaining witnesses. Meanwhile, a separate election petition challenging the victory of Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze was not heard as scheduled. The petition was filed by Dr Daisy Sarah Nabatanzi against Nambooze and the Electoral Commission. The judge granted Nambooze’s lawyers, led by Medard Lubega Ssegona, additional preparation time, with the hearing set to begin on October 21. Nambooze told supporters she had needed the extra time because of parliamentary business, while Nabatanzi’s legal team said it was ready to proceed and maintained that its client had sufficient evidence to support the petition. Watch the full report for details of the courtroom exchange, the witness testimony and the latest developments in the two election petitions in Mukono. Subscribe to Echo Gossip for more court updates, Uganda politics, accountability reporting and breaking news. #AsumanBasalirwa #RonaldKibuule #AbdullahKiwanuka #FrankAkandiho #MukonoCourt #BettyNambooze #UgandaNews #ElectionPetition #EchoGossip