The East African court of justice sitting in Tanzania capital Arusha has issued an order to the attorney general of Uganda, parliament of Uganda and the East African community to refrain from conduction the forth coming elections of representatives of Uganda in the East African legislative assembly pending amendment of rules that provide for election of members in the said parliament to the satisfaction of this court.
The injunction is in line with the petition filed by Democratic Party legal adviser Fred Mukasa Mbidde who sought for the intervention of the regional court to determine the legality of the rules and procedures for election of such members in line with several articles of the East African Community treaty that have been continuously defied.
In a judgment delivered, the three judges who included the principal judge Johnston Busingye, deputy principal judge Stella Mary Arach Amoko and justice John Mkwawa concurred with the applicant Fred Mukasa Mbidde that the rules under which EALA members from Uganda are elected were contravening article 50 of the East African community treaty that provides for all parties represented in the national parliament to be represented in the assembly without basing on numerical strength of parties.
The judgment read by principal judge Johnston Busingye observed that the contravention of such rules did not only affect the representation of parties in the East African Legislative assembly but also put the integrity of the assembly in question.
The judgment now puts the election of Uganda representative to EALA at halt until the rules being challenged are amended and subject to approval by the East African court of justice.
The applicants’ counsel Justin Ssemuyaba asked court to take look at any amended rules to ascertain on their compliance with the treaty.
The order will not only affect the process of electing Uganda’s representatives to EALA, but also affect the activities of the East African Community that include budgetary issues as well as effecting administrative matters.
Ultimate Media
