Supreme Court has set April 18 as the date when it will deliver its ruling in the controversial and consolidated Age Limit appeals after it scrutinized submissions made by the applicants and attorney general.
In a notice issued by the Supreme Court Deputy Registrar to all age limit appellants; lawyer Male Mabirizi, MP Gerald Karuhanga and four others and Uganda Law Society, the judgment of this appeal has been fixed for the 18th day of April, 2019 at 10.00am.
“Take notice that the judgment of this appeal has been fixed for the 18th day of April 2019 at 10am .If no appearance is made by yourself, your pleader or by someone by law authorized to act for you, the judgment will be delivered in your absence,” says the judgment notice by the Supreme Court Deputy Registrar.
Earlier on Monday morning, City lawyer, Male Mabirizi dragged the Chief Justice and the Attorney General to court for a mandamus order compelling them to deliver the age limit appeal judgment that he says has delayed.
In January this year, a panel of seven Supreme Court justices led by Chief Justice Bart Katureebe faulted Constitutional Court for failure to summon some of the witnesses like the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Raphael Magyezi the mover of the bill and the commander of Special Forces Command (SFC) that stormed parliament, evicted suspended MPs.
They contended that, the bill was smuggled in the house and the process of enacting it was marred by violence, arrests and police’s disruption of opposition MPs consultative meetings. Opposition legislator’s consultative meetings were always disrupted by the police that was led by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura.
All the 5 High Court judges except Justice Kenneth Kakuru ruled that MPs constitutionally amended article 102(b) to remove upper presidential age limit, but unanimously ruled that the reinstatement of presidential term limits and extension of MPs’ tenure from 5 to 7years was unconstitutional.
In particular, Justice Cheborion Barishaki in his ruling said that the MPs acted in selfishness and were serving their interests by extending their term in office from 5 to 7 years with immediate effect. He quelled the MPs’ decision to also amend article 77(3) and 181(4) of the Constitution to extend term of office of MPs and Local Council chairpersons from 5 to 7years respectively.
