Six lead lawyers in age limit judgment

All roads lead to Mbale today as the five justices of the Constitutional Court deliver their long-awaited judgment on the presidential age limit petition at the High Court premises.

Below are the lawyers for both the petitioners and government;

Lawyers for petitioners
Dan Wandera Ogalo: He is a senior lawyer with Victoria Advocates and Legal Consultants in Kampala. He was the lead counsel representing the age limit petitioners though he particularly represented the Uganda Law Society in the consolidated age limit petition. Mr Ogalo studied at King’s College Budo and joined Makerere University where he graduated with Bachelor of Laws a degree in law and later acquired a diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC).

He was the Bukholi South delegate to the Constituent Assembly which made the 1995 Constitution.He was also one of the lawyers who represented Opposition politician Kizza Besigye in a presidential election petition against President Museveni in 2006. He has also represented Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly.

Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi:

He is a renowned human rights lawyer who has defended many litigants. He holds a certificate in Philosophy from Katigondo National Major Seminary, a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University and a diploma in legal practice from the LDC. He handled the Muwanga Kivumbi versus government petition, a landmark case that saw the Constitutional Court nullify Section 32 of the Police Act which had given power to police to stop peaceful public rallies and demonstrations. Mr Rwakafuuzi has won several human rights awards. He has often represented Dr Besigye Kizza.

Erias Lukwago:

He studied at Makerere University from 1993 to 1997 and attained a Bachelor of Laws degree and later obtained a diploma in legal practice from LDC in 1998. He holds a Certificate in Advocacy Skills from the International Law Institute.

Mr Lukwago is also the Kampala Lord Mayor. In 2006, he was elected to Parliament representing Kampala Central constituency. While MP, Mr Lukwago was a member of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and Local Government Accounts Committee. He is a managing partner in Lukwago and Co Advocates, a law firm that specialises in constitutional and human rights law. He has handled and won cases; Betty Nambooze Bakireke versus Bakaluba Peter Mukasa and another in the election Petition No. 14 of 2006, and several other election petitions. He is a confidant of opposition leader Dr Besigye.

Male Kiwanuka Mabirizi

He is one of the five petitioners in the age limit case. He represented himself. He holds a Bachelor of Laws but is not an enrolled advocate. He first thrust in the limelight when he sued the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi for imposing lease fee on the kingdom land occupied by the subjects.

Government lawyers
Mwesigwa Rukutana

He is the Deputy Attorney General who led the government legal team to defend the constitution amendments. He is a lawyer and a politician. He was appointed Deputy Attorney General in 2015, replacing Fred Ruhindi. Prior to that, he served in various ministerial capacities, including as state minister for Labour and Education. He is also the Rushenyi County MP in Ntungamo District. He served as Registrar of Titles in the Ministry of Lands from 1986 to 1988. From 1984 to 1992, he was a lecturer at LDC. In 1994, he was elected a delegate to the Constituent Assembly.

Christine Kaahwa

Ms Kaahwa is the acting Director of Civil Litigation in the Justice ministry. From 2008 to 2014, she was a Principal State Attorney at the same ministry. She is an advocate of the High Court.
She has expertise in Constitutional Law and Constitutionalism, Civil Litigation and Court Practice, Democratic Practices, Litigation, Operation of the Commonwealth justice system, Advocacy and community-based training.
Ms Kaahwa is a graduate of Law from Makerere University and holds a diploma in Legal Practice. She has served on the National Lotteries Board in the past.