Ruling on age limit appeal for this Thursday

CASE

KAMPALA - The Supreme Court confirmed Monday it will deliver its judgment in the ‘Age Limit' consolidated appeals on Thursday in Kololo.

The delivery is scheduled to start at 10am local time.

Earlier, city lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi had dragged Chief Justice Bart Katureebe to the High Court for purpotedly delaying to deliver the verdict.

In an application lodged at the Civil Division of the High Court, Mabirizi sought an order compelling the Chief Justice to immediately deliver the age limit verdict or give him reason why it had not yet been delivered within 60 days as required under the law.

The Chief Justice was sued in his capacity as the administrative head of the judiciary and the Supreme Court together with the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga.

Immediately after filing the suit, Supreme Court registrar Godfrey Anguandia Opifeni issued a notice indicating the verdict will be delivered Thursday.

Three months ago (on January 16), a panel of seven justices of the Supreme Court led by Katureebe concluded the hearing of the age limit appeal in which Mabirizi, Uganda Law Society and six opposition members of parliament (MPs) want the age limit amendment quashed. 

The applicants argue that it is tainted with illegalities, in violation of the constitution.

Other justices are Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Stella Arach Amoko, Eldad Mwangusya, Jotham Tumwesigye, Rubby Opio-Aweri and Paul Mugamba.

However, the government through Byaruhanga wants the same court to uphold the lower court decision which allows the removal of the presidential age limit.

On December 20, 2017, Parliament amended the constitution, which uplifted the presidential age limit and also the term of parliament to seven years. The move prompted Mabirizi and four others to petition the Constitutional Court.

Last year on July 26 the Constitutional Court in a majority decision of 4:1 allowed the removal of the presidential age limit and unanimously declared the extension of the term of members of parliament and local government as unconstitutional.

Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Justices Remmy Kasule, Elizabeth Musoke and Cheborion Barishaki okayed the removal of the presidential age limit while Justice Kenneth Kakuru dissented.

Following the judgment, the petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to declare the entire Constitutional Amendment Act no.1 of 2018 null and void.


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As it happened: Uganda Today - Wednesday January 16