Kato Lubwama appeal hits another snag

An appeal by Rubaga South’s Kato Lubwama challenging an election petition against his parliamentary seat has hit a snag after the Appellant Court failed to constitute a full panel to hear the matter.

The deputy chief justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo says the two available judges that partially heard the same are currently on leave and will have to return before court adds a third judge to hear the matter.

Kato Lubwama’s legal struggle for the Rubaga South parliamentary seat is still on hold after parties in the case were informed that there’s no quorum to hear the case.

The appeal by Lubwama was mentioned before a panel of three judges led by Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo who said they could not hear the case because another panel had already started hearing the same.

The court will now have to reconstitute another panel including two judges that earlier heard the matter with retired deputy chief justice Steven Kavuma. The two are currently on leave.

Dollo noted “The purpose of today’s sitting is to mention the issue but soon it will be heard and judgment will be made. Court now simply has to select a third member of the panel”

Kato Lubwama appealed challenging a high court decision that allowed Habib Buwembo one of the electorates of Rubaga south file an election petition challenging his academic papers beyond the 30 days provided for.

The lawyers in the matter are frustrated with continued delays since 2016 which they largely blame on incompetencies of the former DCJ Steven Kavuma.

Owiny Dollo who apologized for delays in the system prayed that legislators push for their cause for more judges if cases will be handled on time arguing he currently has matters dating back to 2010.

“This should be a lesson for you legislators to among other things fight for a robust number of judges. My court currently needs about 25 judges for efficiency”

The parties will be informed on another date when to return to court.