500 people to demonstrate over delayed Lukwago ruling

Makerere University LC 5 councillor Bernard Luyiga intends to demonstrate with 500 more people on Tuesday. Courtesy Photo

What you need to know:

The Supreme Court on April 24 this year, heard and concluded the hearing of Mr Lukwago’s application in which he is seeking the court’s orders to reinstate him to his office after he was kicked out by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma

KAMPALA
Makerere University KCCA councilor Bernard Luyiga has written to the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura, notifying him of his intended massive demonstration on Tuesday next week over what he called delayed delivery of a Supreme Court ruling involving the embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

According to Mr Luyiga’s letter dated July, 29 that this newspaper has seen, he says he intends to lead about 500 people from Makerere University in a peaceful demonstration to Parliament and deliver his petition to the Leader of Opposition (LOP) Wafula Oguttu to intervene in the delayed Lukwago ruling.

The Supreme Court on April 24 this year, heard and concluded the hearing of Mr Lukwago’s application in which he is seeking the court’s orders to reinstate him to his office after he was kicked out by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma.

“In line with article 29 (d) of the constitution and Section 5 (1) of the Public Management Order Act, I hereby wish to notify your good office that I intend to lead a group of not more than 500 peaceful demonstrators from Makerere University in delivering a petition to the LOP on Tuesday 5th at 11am at Parliament,” reads Luyiga’s letter in part.

The letter further reads, “The intention of this petition is to request for the intervention of Parliament as an arm of state in requesting the Supreme Court to expedite the judgment surrounding the case of the office of the Lord Mayor of Kampala to enable efficient representation of the people of Kampala in line with article 1 (4) of the constitution and section 11 of the KCCA Act.”

Mr Luyiga’s letter is copied to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, LOP Mr Oguttu and KCCA’s Jennifer Musisi Semakula.

When this newspaper contacted the spokesperson of the Judiciary Mr Erias Kisawuzi on the update of the ruling, he said that the ruling was put on notice by the court. Mr Kiswauzi added that the writing of the ruling is in advanced stages and that it could be delivered any time.

On March 28, High Court judge Mugambe ruled that Lukwago’s impeachment by KCCA on November 25, 2013 was illegal because it had been stopped by court. She subsequently, ordered Lukwago’s reinstatement in office.
However, Justice Kavuma ordered Mr Lukwago out of office at City Hall on March 31, three hours after he had resumed duty following the High Court ruling by Justice Lydia Mugambe on March 28.

The panel of judges that heard and reserved the ruling on notice included Justice Esther Kisaakye Mayambala, Justice Benjamin Odoki, Justice Gildino Okello, Justice John Wilson Tsekooko and Justice Christine Kitumba.

In their arguments, Mr Abdu Katuntu, Mr Lukwago’s lead counsel, argued that Justice Kavuma overstepped his mandate when he sat alone, instead of a full panel of three justices of the Court of Appeal, and quashed the earlier orders of the High Court which had reinstated Lukwago as lord mayor.