Lawyer Male Mabirizi has dragged President Yoweri Museveni to court for abandoning his new name, Tibuhaburwa that he formally adopted in 2020.
On October 6, 2020, Museveni swore a declaration to rectify his names and have them written in proper order in accordance with the law on the registration of names.
“I formally and absolutely renounce and abandon the use of names Yoweri Museveni, Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and assume and adopt in place of those names my full name Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni,” he said in his deed poll.
However, on Tuesday, lawyer Mabirizi ran to the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala arguing that the president has continued to use Yoweri Kaguta Museveni instead of the new name of Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni on all formal documents which he says is illegal.
“By Deed poll dated 6th October 2020, YOWERI TIBUHABURWA KAGUTA MUSEVENI formally and absolutely renounced and abandoned the name YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI and declared that he shall at all times from then in all records, deeds and instruments in writing and in all occasions that require the use of his full name, sign the name of YOWERI TIBUHABURWA KAGUTA MUSEVENI,”Mabirizi says.
According to the lawyer, Museveni was nominated by the Electoral Commission to stand for presidency that he won under the new name, adding that it is wrong to continue carrying out state duties using the old and abandoned name.
“On May 12, 2021,, the said YOWERI TIBUHABURWA KAGUTA MUSEVENI took oath as President of Uganda for 2021-2026 term. However, subsequent documents were signed by Yoweri K. Museveni holding out as President, and not YOWERI TIBUHABURWA KAGUTA MUSEVENI, nominated and declared by the Electoral Commission,” he says.
The lawyer argues that it is illegal for the president to append signature on documents using a name he abandoned last year, adding that the person who signed the documents is not the president of Uganda.
Mabirizi wants court to declare all directives and appointments made by the president since his election illegal since the person “elected” and “sworn-in” are different from the one making appointments.
“Since the name Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was formally and absolutely renounced and abandoned, it is illegal to sign in that name and any document issued in that name is illegal, null and void,” Mabirizi says in a suit in which the Attorney General has been listed as the respondent.
