By Ruth Anderah:
The Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-has apologised to the nation about the delay in hearing Constitutional Petitions promising to quickly dispose -off all pending cases under his reign as the head of the Constitutional Court.
Justice Dollo has sounded the apology to a one Benjamin Alipanga who filed a petition challenging the amendment of Article 102(b) regarding the presidential age limit. Three years later, his petition is yet to be heard.
Last week on Friday Justice Dollo summoned Alipanga, his three lawyers led by Fred Muwema , the Attorney General and the NRM lawyers to appear before him and mention the petition.
Today NRM lawyers led by Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the Attorney General represented by Martin Mwambustya, Alipanga and his lawyers held a two- hour closed meeting with Justice Dollo in which they have agreed to first consult on whether Alipanga’s petition is still relevant and if so, it should be expeditiously fixed for hearing.
The judge has then ordered the parties to file a joint -report on their position on the 6th of November 2017. The said report will guide court on the way- forward.
in 2014 Alipanga petitioned court seeking an injunction against his NRM Party from fronting Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as a 2016 presidential candidate claiming he would be ineligible for election because he would have clocked 75 years of age and will therefore be unable to serve the full presidential term of 5 years as Artiocle 102(b) bars a person above that age to be elected president.
He also sought an injunction to bar parliament from amending the provision of the Constitution pending interpretation from court.
