Controversial city lawyer, Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka has lost his appeal against the age limit verdict after the East African Court of Justice upheld the earlier verdict of Uganda’s court of appeal.
In a virtual hearing in Arusha, the EACJ judges ruled that the 2017 age limit bill which saw the amendment of article 102(b) was constitutionally passed following all parliamentary procedures. The court therefore rejected to overturn Uganda’s supreme court decision that green lighted 75 year old tyrant, Yoweri Museveni to contest in the 2021 presidential election for his sixth term.
The EACJ also downplays state orchestrated violence against opposition legislators who contested the amendment. In the controversial EACJ verdict, it is the MPs to blame for the violence that featured in the August house. The judges say the unruly conduct of legislators was uncalled for and therefore the speaker, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga was right to invite security led by the elite presidential SFC guards to rein in and restore ‘sanity’ and order in the house.
The court however on a good note upheld the right of community residents (Ugandans in this case) to interrogate domestic judicial decisions in the EACJ court based on treaty principles. From this perspective, it is a good win for the people and bad result for the establishment.
A disappointed Male Mabirizi says he will not relent on the pursuit of justice despite the fact that he is now out of time since the presidential nominations are kicking off in November which is less than a month away. This means that the EACJ court has relaxed Museveni’s pressure since he clearly has assurance of featuring on the 2021 ballot paper. The ruling was predictable since this very cour does not have powers to implement their ruling in case it was against Museveni’s candidature. The don’t have the capacity to block Museveni from appearing on the ballot.
