Today in History: Court gives Semo shs350m

August 15, 2000 - Court gives Semo shs350m

The Supreme Court awarded about sh351m to Democratic Party President Paul Ssemogerere as costs for his appeal against the decision of the Constitutional Court to dismiss his petition challenging the 1999 Referendum law.

The costs for the landmark decision by the Constitutional Court nullifying the Referendum and other Provision Bill were yet to be awarded.

The Constitutional Court dismissed the petition challenging the 1999 Referendum law after the Attorney General raised objections that it did not have powers to hear the case.

But the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and ordered the Constitutional Court to hear the case.

Ssemogerere and Zachary Olum, the Nwoya County MP, represented by Joseph Balikuddembe, had filed a bill amounting to sh1.5b, saying they carried research on political, national and international issues.

The Supreme Court Registrar, Mr. Musene, giving his ruling however, said sh1.5b was too high and if awarded could discourage poor people from the courts of law.

The Attorney General represented by the Commissioner for Civil Litigation, Cheborion Barishaki, protested the amount, saying sh25m to sh40m was sufficient since the money was to come from the taxpayer.

Musene said the Government request was too low because the petition emphasised the importance and supremacy of the Constitution.

He said the petition was not only a landmark in the Uganda's history but touched on Parliament and judicial issues.

Musene said the Attorney General's representative had not shown if the government was unable to meet the costs.