Suspended MPs' bid to take part in age limit debate flops as court defers their petition

The Civil division of the   High Court in Kampala has adjourned to December 28th the hearing of the case in which six Members of Parliament suspended from the house seek to have speaker Kadaga's orders revoked.

Six MPs including; Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Allan Ssewanyana, Gerald Karuhanga, Jonathan Odur, Anthony Akol and Mubarak Manyangwa were on Monday  suspended from Parliament sittings for masterminding chaos as the House resumed debate on the proposal to amend the presidential age limit.

They took to court to have the orders revoked so they could take part in the ongoing age limit debate and the subsequent voting.

On Wednesday afternoon Justice Oumo Oguli told the legislators and their lawyers led by Erias Lukwago that she couldn't not continue with hearing of the matter because the Attorney General had not been privy to the suit.

Attorney General who was represented by Elisha Bafirawala asked to have the case adjourned so as to be able to be served with the petition and be able to respond.

Justice Oguli accepted to adjourn the case to December 28th .

Defeated

Lukwago admitted that the suspended legislators were fighting a lost battle after the judge accepted to adjourn the matter to another date .

"You can't blame her because her hands were tied and had to allow the right to fair hearing to the other side, "Lukwago said.

He said that the state played monkey tricks by bundling lawyers cum legislators Medard Sseggona and Wilfred Nuwagaba who had gone to serve the Attorney General with the petition only to be arrested at parliament.

"We condemn the manner in which the Attorney General and state conducted themselves when the documents were taken to them."

The adjournment means that the six suspended legislators will not be able to take part in the ongoing debate and voting on the floor of parliament to lift the age limit.

By the time court hears and determines the matter,it will have been overtaken by events.

Lukwago however said that they will now pursue the path of putting speaker Kadaga to order in the manner she handles matters in parliament.

"We now want court to bring her to order to stop treating and suspending MPs as her primary kids,"Lukwago said.