Declare funding, Museveni asks lawyer who dared him

Kampala. President Museveni has responded to a lawyer who had faulted him for blasting Constitutional Court justices soon after they delivered the age limit judgment, parts of which he did not like.
Mr Museveni in his response letter dated December 8, reminded Mr Jackson Ntwatwa, the executive director of Forum of Concerned Citizens of Uganda, a non-governmental organisation, that the law allows him to comment about a concluded court matter just the way he did.
Mr Ntwatwa had accused President Museveni of violating the Constitution when he criticised the decision of the Constitutional Court led by Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo that they delivered in July this year in Mbale District.
“I have checked with my lawyers. Your position is not correct in law and in logic. The law and logic say that if a case is before court, nobody should comment on it. To do so is to commit the offence of sub-judice. However, if a decision is made, you comment on the decision,” President hit back at Mr Ntwatwa.
“Why do we make appeals to higher courts? it is because we are not happy with the decision. Even if we do not appeal, it is in order to comment on a court decision after it has been made. Some of these decisions involve policy, strategy. Why should we not comment on them?” the head of the State further stated.
The President also asked Mr Ntwatwa who funds his NGO.
“You said you are an NGO, who funds you?” Mr Museveni asked.

Shortly after the delivery of the age limit judgment in July this year, President Museveni criticised the five justices of the Constitutional Court for nullifying the extension of the term of Parliament from five years to seven.
He went on to describe their decision as an “undemocratic age limit nonsense” which focuses on form and procedure rather than substance.
The President also warned the judges that they are not the ones in charge of the country, adding that he and his NRM party MPs will “harmonise and galvanise” their position on the matter.
But following President Museveni’s attack on the justices, several voices came up condemning the same with Mr Ntwatwa being one of them.
Mr Ntwatwa had in his letter dated August 7, faulted President of how he had violated the oath of allegiance and the presidential oath by attacking the judges.
The petitioner had demanded that President Museveni, among others, refrains from making such ‘bogus’ statements that threaten or undermine the independence of the Judiciary, one of the arms of the State, appeal the decision of the Constitutional Court before the Supreme Court if he was dissatisfied and also apologise to the Judiciary and the general public over his attacks.
On July 26 this year, the Constitutional Court in a 4-1 majority judgment, upheld the amendment of the Constitution to remove the presidential age limit of upper cap of 75 and lower cap of 35.
However, the five justices nullified the extension of the term of Parliament from five years to seven, saying it was unconstitutional because they did not obtain people’s consent.