The High Court in Kampala has today ordered that there shall be no Local Council elections before January 30, 2018.
Justice Stephen Musota, who made the ruling today, directed that the LC elections will be conducted after the petitioner and Electoral Commission come to an amicable position.
Earlier in his submission EC lawyer Eric Sabiiti had informed court that negotiations between both litigants are in advance stages. Mr Sabiiti asked for ‘more time to reach a consensus’, prompting Justice Musota to set the date for January 30 next year, when court will hear both parties.
On 13 November, High Court Registrar Sarah Langa issued an interim order stopping the Electoral Commission from organizing local council elections following petition filed by a ‘concerned citizen’ James Tweheyo.
Through his lawyers led by Caleb Mwesigwa, Tweheyo argued that holding of LC elections would disenfranchise O and A level students, who are currently sitting for their exams.
LC I elections were last conducted in 2001 and have been in abeyance for three electoral cycles in 2006, 2011 and 2016, reportedly due to lack of funds.
