Opposition to drag Parliament to court over age-limit fracas

Oct 02, 2017

Asuman Basalirwa said they have evidence that whatever transpired in Parliament was illegal, including the decisions of the Speaker

MPs figting in Parliament

AGE-LIMIT|PARLIAMENT

Opposition political parties not represented in Parliament have threatened to go to court over the chaotic September 27 parliamentary session that left over 25 MPs suspended.

Addressing a press conference at Pope Paul VI Memorial Hotel in Kampala, the leaders of JEMA party, Conservative Party, Economics party, National Youth Revolutionary Organisation party among others, criticised the way the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, managed the parliamentary session.

The president general of Justice Forum Party (JEMA), Asuman Basalirwa, said they have evidence that whatever transpired in Parliament was illegal, including the decisions of the Speaker.

"We want court to pronounce itself on whether what went on in the parliamentary chambers on that day was not illegal. 

"MPs were mishandled by the soldiers, lawful procedures were underlooked and the media was barred from broadcasting the events," he said.

Basalirwa said several renowned city lawyers have already joined them in the challenge and very soon the process would kick off.

"We shall fight to the Supreme Court and we are hopeful all the decisions and the resolutions reached that day will be ruled null and void," Basalirwa said.

The leader of Conservative party, John Ken Lukyamuzi, said: "We saw the plain clothed security personnel deployed with the knowledge of the Speaker  beating up MPs."

Lukyamuzi said that they supported the alternative proposal to revisit Article 102(b) of the Constitution, through a referendum recently by the Inter-Religious Council.

Other leaders present at the press conference were James Bwatentera of Economics Party and Moses Kakiriho of National Youth Revolutionary party. 

 

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