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DP case on ‘Parliament raid’ deferred to February

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High Court Deputy Registrar Sarah Langa has today deferred to February 7, the hearing of Democratic Party’s cases, in which the party sought declaration that what happened in Parliament on September 27 is an illegality.

On that day the Inspector General Police (IGP) Kale Kayihura ordered the Special Forces Command (SFC) to storm the parliamentary chambers, evicted the opposition MPs and in the process injured Mityana Municipality legislator Francis Zaake Butebi and Soroti Woman MP Angelina Osegge.

Subsequently, the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga suspended 24 opposition MPs and one National Resistance Movement stalwart, the Water Resources State Minister Ronald Kibuule, from Parliament for three consecutive sittings.

At the time Parliament had become a theatre of blows following allegations by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Semujju Nganda that Minister Kibuule had sneaked a gun into the parliamentary chambers, in contravention of the rules.

The suspended opposition MPs were against lifting the presidential age limit that is capped at 75 years, with arguments that it is aimed at paving the way for a (Yoweri) Museveni life presidency.

It is against such a background that the DP sought court interpretation, and announcing the adjournment today, Ms. Langa told the DP lawyers led by Alex Waiswa that Justice Stephen Musota to whom the case was allocated, is indisposed and could not hear the case.

However, speaking after adjournment, counsel Waiswa said suspending the legislators for what transpired in Parliament was in contravention of the parliamentary rules and procedures.

“What happened at Parliament was an illegality; Kadaga (Speaker) came out in writing to show that she was not in charge of Parliament yet its decorum is in her hands. Therefore, in this case they just have to consent and accept to withdraw the Bill,” Waiswa said.

The MPs suspended by Kadaga at the time include Ssemujju Nganda, Allan Ssewanyana, Robert Kyagulanyi, Monica Amoding, Sam Lyomoki, Moses Kasibante, Betty Nambooze, Francis Zaake, Ibrahim Kasozi, Nzaavu, Gilbert Olanya, Muhammad Nsereko, Odonga Otto, and Winfred Nuwagaba and Nandala Mafabi.

Others are Medard Lubega Sseggona, Joseph Sewungu, Gerald Karuhanga, Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, Florence Namayanja, Moses Kasibante Theodore Sekikubo, Barnabas Tinkasimire and Ms. Angelina Osege.

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