KAMPALA- The Supreme Court has set November 7, 2018, when it will hold a pre-conferencing session to agree on the procedural arrangements before the full hearing of the age-limit appeal.
On July 26, five Justices of Constitutional Court in a majority decision okayed the removal of the Presidential age Limit and unanimously declared the extension of the term of members of Parliament and local government unconstitutional, however, the same petitioners appealed against the decision in the Supreme court.
According to the pre-hearing conference notice dated October 17, 2018, was sent to law firms of Lukwago and company advocates, Rwakafuuzi and company advocates, the Uganda Law Society and the Attorney General have been ordered to appear before registrar on that day fully robed in their professional attire.
The notice was also sent out to Hassan Male Mabirizi; an appellant who represents himself.
“The purpose of the conference is to prepare for the orderly handling of the above appeals. The main areas to consider will among others include the following, consolidation of the appeals, issues for determination by court, mode for presentation of the appeals, schedules for filing written submissions, replies and rejoinders, applications if any and hearing dates,” reads the notification in part signed by the registrar Supreme Court, Mr Godfrey Opifeni Anguandia .
The five-member panel was in agreement on all the issues raised and reversed the extension of Parliament’s term and re-introduction of the two-term limit for the presidency, but Justice Kenneth Kakuru disagreed with his colleagues on whether Parliament rightly removed the 75-year age limit for the presidency.
He rejected the removal of age limits and awarded costs to the petitioners.
The other judges on the panel, who agreed with Mr Owiny-Dollo on all the issues, were Remmy Kasule, Elizabeth Musoke, and Cheborion Barishaki
The petitioners, who include Uganda Law Society, a group of change-seeking MPs and Mr Male Mabirizi, an individual, have since appealed the decision of the Constitutional Court to maintain the removal of age limits.
