Supreme Court to rule on Lukwago’s stay in office tomorrow

L-R City lawyer Samuel Muyizi Hon. Abdu Katuntu and embattled Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago arriving at the Supreme court at Kololo recently after they had filed an application against the ruling of acting Chief Justice Steven Kavuma. PHOTO ABUBAKER LUBOWA

What you need to know:

Mr Lukwago’s appeal was heard by a panel of five judges of the Supreme Court on April 24 and was reserved for ruling on notice

KAMPALA

The Supreme Court in Kampala has set tomorrow, Thursday August 21 to give its verdict that will determine whether embattled Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago returns to his office at City Hall or continues to stay away.
According to the ruling notice of the Supreme Court dated August 19 and issued out to the concerned parties, the ruling is expected to be delivered at 9:30am by the Court’s Deputy Registrar, Mr Thaddeus Opesen.

“Take notice that the ruling in this application has been fixed for 21st day of August, 2014 at 9:30am in the fore/afternoon or soon thereafter as court will convene,” reads in part the ruling notice.
The ruling notice further reads, “If no appearance is made by yourself, your pleader or by someone by law authorized to act for you, the ruling will be delivered in your absence.”

The ruling notice has been copied to KCCA’s legal department, Attorney General’s chambers and the lawyers who represented Mr Lukwago in court.
The law firms that have been served with the ruling notice that represented Mr Lukwago during the hearing of this case in April this year include; Kwesigabo, Bamwine & Walubiri Co Advocates, Katuntu & Co Advocates, Lukwago & Co Advocates, Alaka & Co Advocates and Okalang law chambers.
This appeal arose on April 1, this year when Mr Lukwago ran to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the earlier orders of Justice Steven Kavuma of the Court Appeal who had among others kicked him out of City Hall.
Justice Kavuma on March, 31 this year kicked Mr Lukwago out of City Hall barely three hours after resuming his seat.
The actions of Justice Kavuma followed an appeal by AG and KCCA who claimed they were aggrieved with the earlier orders of high court Justice Lydia Mugambe.

Justice Mugambe on March 28, this year ruled that Mr Lukwago’s impeachment by KCCA councilors on November 25, last year was illegal on grounds that there was an existing court order stopping the same purported impeachment. She subsequently ordered for his reinstatement.
Mr Lukwago’s appeal was heard by a panel of five judges of the Supreme Court on April 24 and was reserved for ruling on notice. The judges included Dr Esther Kisaakye Mayambala who led the panel, Benjamin Odoki, Galdino Okello, John Wilson Tsekooko and Christine Kitumba.

This much awaited ruling comes at the time when Makerere University KCCA councilor Bernard Luyiga had petitioned the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mr Wafula Oggutu to intervene in the delayed delivery of the ruling.
Mr Luyiga who was one of the councilors who voted Mr Lukwago out of office argued that the delay was denying the people of Kampala representation at City Hall.