The Brussels Summoning: A Misguided Affront to Ugandan Sovereignty
By Agama Devis Brian
In an exclusive sit-down, legal expert Joshua Okello Patrick argues that summoning Ambassador Mirjam Blaak Sow to Brussels is a move driven by a disgruntled minority rather than facts. He asserts the 2026 elections were conducted strictly under Article 61 of the Constitution, mandating the Electoral Commission to ensure free polls.
Joshua defends the Ambassador’s stance, noting that the process was transparent and peaceful nationwide. He highlights Article 122, which empowers the President to appoint envoys to protect Uganda’s sovereignty, making her defense of our national integrity both legally sound and diplomatically necessary.
The lawyer points out that while a section of the NUP disputes the outcome, most other candidates accepted the results. Under Article 104, legal grievances must be settled in the Supreme Court—a route other contenders deemed unnecessary given the clear public mandate.
Regarding allegations of rights violations, Joshua dismisses them as politically motivated fabrications. He stresses that the Presidential Elections Act provides robust internal mechanisms for complaints, yet opposition agitators have chosen international headlines over Uganda’s established judicial processes.
Addressing the security presence at Magere, Joshua maintains these measures were essential for public order. Invoking the Police Act (Cap 303), he argues that security forces acted within the law to prevent post-election instability and thwart attempts to undermine the democratic will.
On the disqualification of certain candidates, the legal expert clarifies these were technical, not political, decisions. The Electoral Commission acted within its mandate under the Parliamentary Elections Act, penalizing failures to meet strict nomination requirements rather than engaging in “persecution.”
Finally, Joshua emphasizes that Uganda’s commitment to the rule of law is self-sufficient. Under the Human Rights (Enforcement) Act of 2019, the nation possesses the internal capacity to address valid concerns without interference from foreign parliaments in domestic affairs.
