The opposition party Forum for Democratic Change’s top brass has described the Friday Constitutional court ruling as “unjust and illegal”.
The Court chaired by the Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma on Friday issued a four-week injunction prohibiting FDC from holding any demonstration or processions against government slated for the May 5th pending the main application that seeks to ban the opposition protests against government dubbed “defiance campaign”.
The demonstration was to show dissatisfaction with the outcome of the February 18 presidential election and a demand for an independent audit of the election results.
The orders by Kavuma followed an exparte (one-sided) argument of an application for interim orders by the deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana.
In response, the former FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye chided the ruling, saying it’s illegal. “I don’t know whether it’s going to become for “Kavuma and my country. Imagine how someone in 2016 bans prayers plus media briefings…this ruling is an injustice and it is one of the illegalities I am ready to defy.”
He added: “We contended Museveni’s victory with reasons to challenge it; however, I wasn’t given a chance to petition in courts that are why the court has become Museveni. Justice Kavuma should know that the constitution he is violating…I was part of its making.”
The Leader of Opposition[LOP] in Parliament and the head of the FDC Women League Ignrid Turinawe expressed shock at the ruling in a series of social media posts.
“Be part of History – to be made in Uganda on Tuesday 3rd. A New Namugongo in making. I will be a martyr, ready to die- killed on black Tuesday while praying in Najjanankumbi,” Ms Ingrid Turinawe said.
Her insolence was reechoed by LoP Hon. Wafula Oguttu who said: “Banning our prayers? Compatriots, we should not let any dictators walk through our minds with their dirty feet. Our mind is the only thing God gave us over which we have full control.”
Firebrand Pastor Ngabo who leads the Tuesday players at the party headquarters in Najjankumbi says that he will not relent and asked Justice Kavuma to reverse the ruling against their campaign.
Shawn Mubiru, the FDC social media manager described the deputy Chief Justice a biased judge. “No one should be bigger than the constitution, no cadre judge should twist the law to selfishly favor them. Prayers are prayers!” he tweeted.
Justice Kavuma also issued another interim order stopping all court proceedings involving Dr. Besigye for four weeks and ordered that the registrar must ensure that the main application is fixed for hearing.
