Court to determine Kato Lubwama's fate on Tuesday

May 27, 2019

If Lubwama’s application is rejected, he will have to defend his academic credentials before court or rush to the Supreme Court

The Court of Appeal will on Tuesday deliver a verdict in an application in which Lubaga South MP Kato Lubwama is seeking to block a voter from ousting him over academic papers.

According to the notice issued by the court registrar on Monday, the ruling will be delivered at 9:30 am.

Last year, High Court judge Margaret Oguli-Oumo allowed Habib Buwembo to file an election petition against him out of the stipulated time of 60 days.

Following the judge's verdict, Lubwama rushed to the Court of Appeal to have the trial judge's verdict reversed.

If Lubwama's application is rejected, he will have to defend his academic credentials before court or petition the Supreme Court.

Genesis of the case

In 2017, Habib Buwembo petitioned the High Court seeking to unseat Lubwama on grounds that he did not have the requisite minimum academic requirements for him to represent the people of Lubaga South.

 

abib uwembo centre is challenging the legality of  ato ubwamas election to the ouse hoto by eddie usisiHabib Buwembo (centre) is challenging the legality of MP Kato Lubwama's election to the House. Photo by Meddie Musisi

 

Upon hearing the petition, Lubwama sought to throw out Buwembo's case, saying that he had filed it out of time.

But, the trial judge rejected Lubwama's request and allowed his challenger to proceed with the case.

Court documents indicate that Lubwama failed English, Mathematics, and Commerce, but got a credit three in Christian Religious Education, a pass eight in history and Geography respectively.

According to Buwembo, the results did not merit Lubwama a UCE certificate, a prerequisite for taking Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) that ordinarily enables a person to pursue a diploma or degree course at a university.

It is alleged that Lubwama used the said documents to sit mature entry exams to be admitted for a diploma in Music, Dance and Drama at Makerere University.

Court documents indicate that Lubwama joined Makerere University in 1993 after he presented a letter from UNEB, confirming that he sat for his O'levels. 

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