The court has dismissed an application in which a Kampala lawyer, Davis Wesley Tusingwire had sought to discontinue magistrates from sitting at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court; arguing that their inclusion in the division was a violation of the Constitution.

Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe headed the coram that dismissed the application. The other members of the panel were Justices Jotham Tumwesigye, Dr Esther Kisaakye-Kitimbo, John Wilson Tsekooko and Christine Nakaseeta Kitumba.

Tusingwire had earlier lost a petition in the Constitutional Court by a 4-1 majority judgment in which the court ordered that the trials at the Anti-Corruption Court should proceed with the magistrates sitting at it as mandated judicial officers.

The lawyer had challenged the validity of the High Court Anti-Corruption Division on practicing directions by the Chief Justice. He had also sought a stay of execution of the judgment of the Constitutional Court, saying that he had filed an application to stay the lower court’s orders.

The court ruled that Chief Magistrates and Grade One Magistrates will continue with their work as judicial officers at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that any person adversely affected by the duties of magistrates is free to seek appropriate judicial remedy.

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