Uganda Law Society Slams Kavuma ban on FDC Defiance Campaign

Uganda Law Society has poured cold waters on Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma’s order banning Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) defiance activities.

On Friday evening, Justice Kavuma issued an exparte ruling placing interim ban on the party’s “defiance” activities and countrywide demonstrations which will take place today. However, FDC has ignored the court directives.

In a statement issued yesterday signed by Uganda Law Society president Francis Gimira, the body’s executive council argued that courts are mandated to hear both sides in determination civil rights and liberties.

“the practice of our courts have been that ex parte orders are granted in special circumstances where the delay caused by including all parties might entail irreparable damages or serious mischief,” the statement reads in part.

“In this case, we don’t see any justification for hearing such a politically charged application where the attorney general is the applicant ex parte. In fact, we believe that no exceptional danger would have arisen in effecting service on the respondents. The constitution of Uganda protects the rights of the parties and such rights should only be limited in proper circumstances including after due process of the law,” the statement added.

The ban which is being effected by the Uganda police resulted into arrest of more than 30 defiant opposition figures on Tuesday including Lord Mayor elect Erias Lukwago, Pastor Happy Ngabo and controversial Makerere University Institute of Social Research (MISR) research fellow Dr. Stella Nyanzi who spent a night in police cells and were released yesterday after securing court bail.

Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura has asked FDC leaders and supporters to respect the court order, and stop holding the demonstrations.