Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Warns Opposition Politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine Against Blackmailing and Intimidating Judges.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has told National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine not to dare intimidate him again.

“The last time we sat here I spoke on how we will conduct ourselves in the matter before us. The lordships as it is provided for in the constitution took an oath to protect it without fear favor affection or ill will,” Owiny-Dollo said Friday while presiding over the hearing of the application by NUP to file the remaining 200 affidavits.

“…All matters that arise outside court we don’t have time for it. If anyone thinks they can intimidate, blackmail the chief justice Of Uganda, he is going to crash.”

As of addressing Bobi Wine directly, Dollo stated: “You cannot intimidate, blackmail judges. If anyone thinks he can intimidate, blackmail, induce the Chief Justice, then he is headed for a crash.”

He said that the judges of the Supreme Court cannot be intimidated by statements made by the former presidential candidate in the handling of the Presidential Election petition that seeks to challenge President Museveni’s victory in the January 14 polls.

“I want to say that the judges took oath to protect the Constitution. In the oath, we all took to exercise judicial functions entrusted to me in accordance with the laws of Uganda without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.”

He said that being guided by the oath, matters circulating outside the court do not attach any importance to the Presidential Election Petition pending hearing and determination.

Chief Justice during Friday session

Justice Dollo was responding to concerns raised by the Attorney General (AG), William Byaruhanga in which he complained against what he described as an orchestrated scheme by Bobi Wine to intimidate the Supreme Court.

Byaruhanga told court on Friday: “I saw this on television and also in newspaper headlines when the applicant/petition made reference to his displeasure at the participation of three justices of this court. He said he has no confidence that he would get justice.”

He said Bobi Wine is seen to playing to another gallery and yet the judges already made orders directing all parties to file their issues before them.

In response, Dollo described Bobi Wine’s statements are considered as idle talk because if he did not have confidence in the court, he would not have run to judges to file his petition.

“We are not opposed to fair criticism but criticise my conduct and decision. But speaking against me without a chance to respond is cowardly. You can choose to malign us a thousand times but if you have an issue and come before me, I would proceed in line with the law.”