Bart Katureebe, Jotham Tumwesigye, Rubby Opio Aweri and Stella Arach Amoko stole the show as the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the consolidated presidential age limit appeal.
The four judges ‘defeated’ Paul Mugamba, Eldad Mwangusya and Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza 4-3 to allow President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election in the 2021 polls.
By then, the President will have clocked 75-years of age
This website reached out to some of members of the public for their reactions on the ruling.
Opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.
“I don’t know whether I personally will ever bring any matter before Chief Justice Bart Katureebe or Jotham Tumwesigye and company. It will be the last thing I would do in my life. History will remember those justices as traitors,” Ssemujju said.
Democratic Party President Norbert Mao.
“We have not lost hope. The final court will Judge the final race and that is the court of people, so from now on its people power.”
Erias Lukwago who led lawyers that petitioned to the Supreme Court after to the ruling of the Constitutional Court.
“This is a sad day that Uganda has lost its arm of rule of law. Our courts have been hijacked by military Juntas and money. The decision which was made by the Supreme Court has got serious implications on the political stability or instability of this country. This has confirmed that in Uganda there is no democracy in courts.”
Betty Nambooze, Member of Parliament from Mukono Municipality.
“Katureebe chose this day to symbolically show that they are not different from Pontius Pilate who convicted an innocent man Jesus and released Barnabas the killer. Shame upon him.”
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi
“We came here to prove to the world and the citizens that we’ve gone through all the steps, but ultimately the freedom that we desire, the liberation, cannot be achieved through courts because Museveni owns the courts but whatever we want will be achieved by power of people.”
Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga.
“When a dictator reaches this state of hijacking courts no hope is left for people. If a judge accepts that even though MPs were beaten by strangers (army), nothing much was there to nullify the process yet some members up now are still nursing wounds, this shows how our judges have become too cheap to the extent of doing what amuses the dictator other than respecting the laws.”
Male Mabirizi -main petitioner against age limit act
“There is a big war ahead and I urged Ugandans to get ready for it. We have not lost. There’s a big war we’re fighting. People think we’ve lost but we’ve lost a battle but the war continues. I will continue with the war against bad laws in the country.”
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
