By ANTHONY WESAKA
Kampala.
Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine has said the bad
blood between the Executive and the Judiciary stemming from orders on
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago smacks of insanity, tainting the credibility of
courts.
Justice Bamwine’s concern stems from the order
that had reinstated Mr Lukwago as Lord Mayor before an injunction issued
by Justice Steven Kavuma of the Court of Appeal stayed execution of the
order.
Last week Justice Lydia Mugambe had ruled that the
continued ouster of Mr Lukwago from his office by KCCA and Kampala
Minister, Mr Frank Tumwebaze was illegal.
The ruling effectively reinstated Mr Lukwago;
however, he was on Monday thrown out three hours after he had returned
to office, following government’s appeal against Justice Mugambe’s
order.
“I am disturbed by the on-going disputes between
two arms of government - the Executive and the Judiciary. The Executive
calls the Judiciary names and the Judiciary responds likewise with equal
force. Where is the sanity here?” asked Justice Bamwine in a statement
to the Daily Monitor.
“The High Court makes orders; they are either
rubbished by the Executive or reversed immediately. Ironically, we are
witnessing this at a time when the Judiciary is all out to enhance
public confidence in the institution,” he added.
The Principal Judge who heads the High Court said
as the war of words escalates, peace eludes the city, the image of the
Judiciary gets dented, the Executive is seen as acting high handed and
the judicial system is viewed as decadent.
However, while responding to Justice Bamwine’s
concerns, the Minister for Kampala and Presidency Frank Tumwebaze said
Lukwago was not fighting the Executive but councillors who impeached
him.
“We, however, welcome any meaningful mediation as offered by Justice Bamwine to solve the current impasse,” said Mr Tumwebaze.
In his statement, Justice Bamwine made an appeal that would allow him mediate between the two parties and have a solution to the impasse that has characterised KCCA since the election of Mr Lukwago.
In November, KCCA councillors convened a meeting chaired by Mr Tumwebaze that voted to impeach Mr Lukwago, following Justice Catherine Bumugemereira’s report that convicted the Lord Mayor of incompetency and abuse of office.
“We, however, welcome any meaningful mediation as offered by Justice Bamwine to solve the current impasse,” said Mr Tumwebaze.
In his statement, Justice Bamwine made an appeal that would allow him mediate between the two parties and have a solution to the impasse that has characterised KCCA since the election of Mr Lukwago.
In November, KCCA councillors convened a meeting chaired by Mr Tumwebaze that voted to impeach Mr Lukwago, following Justice Catherine Bumugemereira’s report that convicted the Lord Mayor of incompetency and abuse of office.
what he thinks
According to Justice Bamwine, the government and the Lukwago group should seek an amicable resolution and chart a way forward. He says the saga is tarnishing the credibility of government and the Judiciary.
According to Justice Bamwine, the government and the Lukwago group should seek an amicable resolution and chart a way forward. He says the saga is tarnishing the credibility of government and the Judiciary.
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