The Civil Division of the High Court today has farther stayed the injunction it placed in the electoral process which the Uganda Journalism Association (UJA) was organising citing the main case of the elimination of some of the candidates from the race.
Justice Musa Ssekaana said that the matter will come back for hearing on April 13, 2023 as the two sides agree on the issues at hand.
Mr George Musisi, the lead lawyer of the petitioners said, “We have gained the first leg into the case. When we come back here we shall get the date when the final judgement shall be delivered to us and we need to be waiting for that.”
On the 17th February, the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala issued an order calling off the UJA forth coming elections. This came after five journalists; Abubaker Lubowa, Zambaali Blasio Mukasa, Emmanuel Nkata, Hasifu Ssekiwunga and Martin Kimbowa filed a case before this Court in the matter of Article 28, 42 and 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and orders of Judicial Review of Certiorari, Mandamus and Prohibition against UJA president Mathias Rukundo and Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda and the Association.
The five rushed to court seeking its help to stop the directive and decision of the respondents communicated to the Applicants on the 3rd of February 2023 ejecting the applicants from standing as candidates in the next UJA elections.
Since then more than 10 journalists have shown interests in taking up offices in the association with hopes that this time round after court the election process will be organised following the association constitution with an independent vetting committee.
The recent journalist to show interest is the Vision group journalist Jovan Kibirige who wants to occupy the top seat of the association and says is the best candidate to take up this seat.
” I appreciate those who went to court and we believe to get the best from court, their going to court has opened up opportunities for many capable leaders UJA has been missing because of the dictatorship the current regime had put leaving many of us out not to compete.” Kibirige.
The UJA Constitution in Article 10 stipulates that there shall be a returning officer of all UJA elections who shall be from the Uganda Electoral Commission or any other person of moral integrity as agreed upon by the members.
He has also showed grievances on the membership and subscription fees which expires after a given period of time.
“I understand the association needs money to run its work but it would be better if journalist pay subscriptions fee once, there many ways the association can raise money than exploiting the already exploited members.” Kibirige said then.
