Court Summons Speaker, Attorney General After Snubbing Age Limit Case Hearing

High Court civil division Judge, Margaret Oumo Oguli has summoned the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and the Attorney General, William Byaruhaga to appear in court over a matter in which six MPs challenge their dismissal from Parliament.

This matter had come up for hearing on Thursday morning but the respondents (Attorney General and Speaker of Parliament) had no representatives.

The judge attempted to contact the Attorney General’s chambers but she was told that counsel Bafirawala Elisha who is incharge of the file was indisposed.

Subsequently, she adjournned the matter to Wednesday January 3, 2018 at 10 am to enable both parties participate in the hearing of this matter.

She ordered that failure by the Speaker and the Attorney General or their legal counsel to make an appearance in court on January 3, the matter shall be heard in their absence.

However the conduct of the Attorney General left Lord Erias Lukwago the counsel for the applicants questioning why they take such a serious matter so lightly. Hw wondered why they could not make a formal communication to court.

These MPs are accusing the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga of unlawfully dismissing them from attending seven sittings of Parliament which they say does not only deprive them of their rights but also directly affects their electorate who are not being represented in the house.

They include Kawempe South MP, Mubarak Munyangwa, Ntungamo municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga, Erute county South MP, Jonathan Odur and Anthony Akol of Kilak North. Others are Makindye West MP, Allan Ssewanyana and Kira municipality, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.