Presented by their lawyers led by Ladislaus Rwakafuzi and Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the trio demanded that the Parliament of Uganda halts the process seeking to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution until a referendum was held. “They want that the Court orders the Electoral Commission that people who are petitioning for the referendum are allowed to collect signatures electronically.” Said, Ladislaus Rwakafuzi Lawyer. In a letter dated 1st June 2017 written by the three-time Presidential aspirant, Dr. Abedi Bwanika wrote to the Electoral Commission demanding for a national referendum. The EC gave the proponents green light to collect the signatures. however, the lawyers said that the people who had volunteered to be part of the process were beaten up by the Police and over 400,000 signatures that had been garnered were confiscated.

The EC in a letter dated November 29th, 2017 stated that it found the use of electronic signature impracticable. The lawyers said this violated the Article 61(1)(B) of the Constitution which stated that “The Electoral Commission shall have to organize, conduct and supervise elections and referenda in accordance with this Constitution.” The lawyers want the application granted as soon as possible in the interest of justice. “You say I want a referendum which can be done in just five days and the whole country would have gotten all the necessary signatures for the referendum so that the Parliament does not to usurp the people’s power.”

The amendment of Article 102 (b) of the Constitution was tabled by the Igara West legislator Raphael Magyezi in September to vacate the age limit imposed on a Presidential candidate, a decision that continued to split the public opinion. The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee was expected to table their report on the age limit Bill.