State House official sucked into Kisekka Market wrangles
Facility. Kisekka Market in Kampala where the new shops are being constructed. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA.
What you need to know:
- Mr Solomon Muyita, the Senior Communications Officer at the judiciary, also confirmed that the letter was received by Principal Judge from State House.
A section of Kisekka Market vendors have accused State House officials of interfering in the ongoing case regarding disputes in the management of the newly constructed shops in the central business district.
The Nakivubo Road Old Kampala (Kisekka) Market Vendors Ltd group led by Mr Robert Kisembo Kasoro protested the move by State House legal officer, Ms Florence Kiconco, asking the Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine to intervene in the case before the Court of Appeal.
Two factions; one led by Mr Kasoro and another headed by Mr Geoffrey Kayita are in the Court of Appeal battling a case over ownership of the market.
Last month, the High Court ruled in favour of Mr Kayita’s group, but Mr Kasoro’s group appealed and the court stayed the execution of the court order.
In a letter dated October 21, the State House legal department wrote to Justice Bamwine seeking his intervention on matters raised by Mr Kayita’s group in the case before court.
“The Legal Department of State House has received the attached petition alleging dissatisfaction with the manner in which the matter is being handled. The purpose of this letter, is to forward the attached petition for further management and/or advise the parties involved accordingly (Counsel Aidah Tegeki will follow up the matter),” reads the letter signed by Ms Aidah Tegeki on behalf of Ms Kiconco.
In the protest letter dated October 23, Mr Kisembo accused Ms Tegeki of using her office to send letters to the Judiciary and other government officials on how their court case should be adjudicated on.
“Ms Tegeki has taken matters personal, and made the people out there believe that your office is partial. Specifically, she has sent out letters to different offices purportedly written by you but signed by herself on your behalf and more still appointing herself to follow up and purporting to advance the interests of the Kayita led group,” reads Mr Kasoro’s letter.
“Our petition to the State House is to prevail upon Ms Tegeki to refrain from matters of the market and let courts perform their statutory duty of adjudication of disputes without interference.”
Mr Don Wanyama, the senior presidential press secretary, confirmed that Ms Tegeki wrote and sent letter to the Principal Judge after getting a complaint from the vendors.
Mr Solomon Muyita, the Senior Communications Officer at the judiciary, also confirmed that the letter was received by Principal Judge from State House. “The Principal Judge forwarded it to the Head of Execution and Bailiffs Division to handle it,” Mr Muyita said.
He said documents sent to the judge do not influence the outcome of judicial officers’ decision in the judgement.
