The Chief Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe written to the Speaker of Parliament Rebeca Kadaga protesting the suffocation of the judiciary’s work the legislature.
Mr. Katureebe’s was responding to the Speaker of Parliament’s complaint dated Jan 11, 2017 that claimed that the conduct of the Deputy Chief Justice has eroded the doctrine of separation of power and some people are trying to use the Judiciary to gag Parliament from discharging its constitutional mandate.
This comes on the heels of widespread criticism of Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma over the petition which had issued to block Parliament’s inquiry into the Shs 6b bonanza that was shared by 42 government officials has been withdrawn Justice Kavuma’s restraining order made under the petition has left behind a lot of rancor, especially among Members of Parliament.
According to a letter dated Jan 13th 2017, signed by Katureebe reveals that some officials may have connived to abuse the law and will be dealt with.
“I agree with you that officers of Government who may have connived to abuse the law and procedure should be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law and established procedures,” readpart of Katureebe’s letter to Kadaga and copied to the President, the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Electoral Commission chairman and Head of Public Service.
He continued; “A wrong decision must be appealed. A misbehaving officer must be investigated as an individual and dealt with appropriately by the relevant authorities.”
“In the same vein I must emphahsize the need for mutual respect between the various arms of Government.”
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Eric Sabiiti, the petitioner and a lawyer at the Electoral Commission who had filed the application in the Constitutional Court told TheUgandan that he met the Attorney General and they agreed that government’s principal legal adviser would ensure that all arms of government play their roles without undue influence.
By Patson Baraire
