MP Kato Lubwama’s case: Police block roads to court

Police on Friday blocked roads leading to Twed Towers where the Civil Division of the High Court sits.The court’s judge, Margaret Oguli Oumo is expected to make her ruling on whether to add Makerere University as one of the respondents in the case in which Rubaga South MP Kato Lubwama’s academic papers are being challenged. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ssemakadde wanted Makerere to avail them with policies regarding it's Mature age entry examinations so as to establish on whether the legislator sat and passed these exams before being admitted for a Diploma in Music Dance and Drama in 1992.
  • The MP's lawyer Mr Asuman Basalirwa asked the judge to dismiss with costs Buwembo's application on grounds that he never exhausted all provided avenues to access public information like he claims.

Police on Friday blocked roads leading to Twed Towers where the Civil Division of the High Court sits.
The court’s judge, Margaret Oguli Oumo is expected to make her ruling on whether to add Makerere University as one of the respondents in the case in which Rubaga South MP Kato Lubwama’s academic papers are being challenged.

All motorists were barred from accessing the court which is hearing the case filed by a one Habib Buwembo challenging the MP’s academic credentials on grounds that he failed Ordinary Level exams and that he is not fit to be an MP.
On Monday this week, the judge was forced to adjourn the case briefly after MP Lubwama’s supporters went rowdy, disrupting court hearing.
The judge was irritated by rowdy Mr Lubwama’s supporters who had stormed court in hundreds to closely follow the proceedings in petition challenging their MP’s academic papers.
When court resumed Mr Buwembo’s lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde asked court to amend the application by adding Makerere University as a third respondent to the petition together with the legislator and Electoral Commission.

“Your honor we seek to add Makerere University as the respondent in this matter because they have refused to give us the necessary documents which are material in exercise of the court’s discretion at this time,” Mr Ssemakadde told court.
Mr Ssemakadde wanted Makerere to avail them with policies regarding it's Mature age entry examinations so as to establish on whether the legislator sat and passed these exams before being admitted for a Diploma in Music Dance and Drama in 1992.
He also accused the University of failing to produce the Diploma Certificate it awarded to MP Kato Lubwama.
Court also heard that , these documents could not be accessed anywhere since even on nomination day, the legislator presented to the District returning officer a letter titled "To Whom it May Concern " written by the University's academic registrar on October15, 2015.

However, the legislator’s lawyer Mr Asuman Basalirwa asked the judge to dismiss with costs Buwembo's application on grounds that he never exhausted all provided avenues to access public information like he claims.
“Mr Buwembo would have lodged a complaint before a magistrate's court which could then compel the University to avail him with these documents. If they fail to do so then that is when he should have filed an appeal in the High Court something he did not do,” Mr Basalirwa said.
Consequently, the judghe adjourned the case to today (Friday) when she would make her ruling.