Constitutional court defers PRA case
Jul 16, 2007
THE hearing of a petition in which Dr. Kizza Besigye and 10 other People’s Redemption Army rebel suspects are challenging the security agencies of interfering in their release on bail failed to take off yesterday.
By Hillary Nsambu
THE hearing of a petition in which Dr. Kizza Besigye and 10 other People’s Redemption Army rebel suspects are challenging the security agencies of interfering in their release on bail failed to take off yesterday.
The Constitutional Court ruled that it would hear the petition after the Attorney General and the lawyers representing the petitioners have held a pre-trial meeting before the Court Registrar, Joseph Murangira. At the meeting, they will sort out the modalities of the case.
Murangira set August 22 as the date for the two parties to hold the scheduling conference, adding that the hearing of the petition would be arranged after that meeting.
Justice G. M. Okello headed the panel. The other members were Justices S.G. Engwau, A.Twinomujuni, C.N.Kitumba and C.K.Byamugisha.
The Principal State Attorney, Robinah Rwakojo, represented the Attorney General, while David Mpanga represented the PRA suspects.
Rwakojo asked the court to adjourn the case because the two parties had not held the pre-trial meeting.
She submitted that the Solicitor General, who is supposed to conduct the case, had just returned from abroad where he was on official duties.
Besigye, the president of the Forum for Democratic Change, and other 10 suspects are facing charges of treason.
Besigye is out on bail but the other suspects are on remand in Luzira Prison although the court granted them bail two times.
The suspects want the court to declare that their continued incarceration yet they were released on bail by the High Court in November 2005 and on March 1, 2007, is a violation of the Constitution.
They also want the court to declare that the siege of the the High Court by security agents when they were granted bail is also illegal.
THE hearing of a petition in which Dr. Kizza Besigye and 10 other People’s Redemption Army rebel suspects are challenging the security agencies of interfering in their release on bail failed to take off yesterday.
The Constitutional Court ruled that it would hear the petition after the Attorney General and the lawyers representing the petitioners have held a pre-trial meeting before the Court Registrar, Joseph Murangira. At the meeting, they will sort out the modalities of the case.
Murangira set August 22 as the date for the two parties to hold the scheduling conference, adding that the hearing of the petition would be arranged after that meeting.
Justice G. M. Okello headed the panel. The other members were Justices S.G. Engwau, A.Twinomujuni, C.N.Kitumba and C.K.Byamugisha.
The Principal State Attorney, Robinah Rwakojo, represented the Attorney General, while David Mpanga represented the PRA suspects.
Rwakojo asked the court to adjourn the case because the two parties had not held the pre-trial meeting.
She submitted that the Solicitor General, who is supposed to conduct the case, had just returned from abroad where he was on official duties.
Besigye, the president of the Forum for Democratic Change, and other 10 suspects are facing charges of treason.
Besigye is out on bail but the other suspects are on remand in Luzira Prison although the court granted them bail two times.
The suspects want the court to declare that their continued incarceration yet they were released on bail by the High Court in November 2005 and on March 1, 2007, is a violation of the Constitution.
They also want the court to declare that the siege of the the High Court by security agents when they were granted bail is also illegal.