KAMPALA:
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago has stated that the ghost of Justice Benedicto Mugumba Kiwanuka still haunts the ‘spinning’ chair of Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo.
Lukwago Shockingly Pondered That; “Maybe the ghost that occasioned the eternal disappearance of Justice Benedicto Mugumba Kiwanuka is still haunting Justice Owiny Dollo’s swivelïng chair.”
Kiwanuka was Uganda’s first Chief Justice. He was kidnapped and then assassinated by Former President Idi Amin in 1972.
Lukwago’s comments came a day after Owiny-Dollo ordered the presiding judges in cases involving two jailed MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana to open or cancel the trial if the prosecution evidence could not be provided.
While launching the new law year in Kampala on Friday, Owiny-Dollo confirmed that the trial of the two lawmakers will begin this year and will be expedited, noting that currently state officials countries must gather enough evidence to convict legislators and cannot obtain such evidence. The evidence will close the case.
“I will ask the trial Judge not to entertain any nonsense during the trial. If the State is not ready, we shall dismiss the case. You (the State) are the one who brought the accused persons to court, you brought allegations on them, the state has the capacity to bring all witnesses,” The Chief Justice Said
Lukwago said it was time for the Chief Justice to issue such a directive regarding the speedy trial of imprisoned legislators.
Although Lukwago welcomed the judge’s directive, he said he would be more grateful if Owiny-Dollo spoke out about the brutal re-arrest of the lawmakers after they were released on bail. $20 million each, which was never repaid by the Department of Justice.
“He should have also come out strongly on the nauseating melodrama surrounding the numerous bail applications brought before court by the legislators since their re-arrest and the blatant refusal of the state to allow the ailing MPs access specialised medical treatment from better facilities,” Lord Mayor Lukwago said in a statement.
He explained that Ssewanyana’s health was deteriorating and that his lawyer and other relevant people had not been allowed to visit him in Kigo, where he was languishing.
Lukwago said the Chief Justice should also have made a statement about the continuation of the trial of civilians, especially members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), at the Martial General Court which he said was completely disregard the Constitutional Court.
He said military courts are not given the authority to deal with such matters. In most cases, Lukwago said, most of these people are held in unlisted detention centers.
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