The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Justice Andrew Bashaija, the head of Civil Division of High Court ejected several people from the court premises this morning for violating the physical distancing guidelines. Dozens of people had turned up at the Twed Tower based court in Kampala to listen to four cases that had been fixed for hearing before various judges.
They included an application in which, Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament, Gerald Karuhanga sued the Parliamentary Commission and Attorney General challenging the procedure leading to the allocation of 10 billion Shillings to various legislators for Covid 19 activities and a suit by the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights seeking to compel government to include other districts on the relief food distribution program.
The other was is a suit where lawyers sued government for excluding them from the list of essential service providers and an application by the mainstream Democratic Party leadership challenging members of a rival faction for conducting elections for the party’s top leadership. The matters attracted several people who filled up the court room which violated the 1.5 meter physical distancing guidelines.
Justice Andrew Bashaija, the Head of Civil Division of High Court couldn’t have any of this. He stormed out of his chambers and directed all the people to leave. Earlier on, a court orderly had presented a handwritten document containing the names of people allowed by the judge to access the court room and asked the remaining to leave.
The DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda through his weight behind the judge, said despite the fact that he would have loved to attend the session but the judge was simply enforcing the Covid 19 prevention guidelines.
However, Isaac Maddo, an activist wasn’t happy with the Judge’s decision saying the matters before court were on public interest.
On March 19, the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe directed courts to only attend to urgent matters. He directed courts to only entertain parties to the suit and their lawyers.
He directed the suspension of cases requiring witnesses until the lock down is lifted.
He also said where possible the parties should file written submissions to avoid physical contact because of the Covid 19 pandemic.
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Justice Bashaija was correct because these people who came to Court, he couldnt understand everyone where he has come from. you see many people in our country you can’t tell them about social distance as it was directed by the president and the ministry of healthy. the problem with Ugandans is that no one has died because of Epidemic. a number of Ugandans have rejected the directives from the government while they’re trying to protect them.many people are fools they can’t obey I don’t know why? the problem is president who said they shouldn’t punish any person when he/she wrong that’s why you see some can’t fear security because they know they’ve nothing to do about them. a capable person can’t go in crowds when he/she follows government directives. most people are opposers who rejects the rules. people are stupid who can’t follow the ministry of healthy directives. the ministry doesn’t help itself but government’s people but have big headed. it seems as if they can’t see what’s happening in other countries globally they’re like as if they’re blind!!! some Ugandans are mad who can’t be controlled because of their misbehaviours.