Uganda: Court throws out Sebatindira election case

The High Court in Kampala has thrown out with costs a case that sought to over-turn the election of Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Ruth Sebatindira. The case arose in March last year just three days after Ms Sebatindira was elected into office. Her victory was challenged by fellow lawyer, Mr Simon Tendo Kabenge.

Mr Kabenge claims he was interested in running for the same position but instead ULS discriminated against him before turning down his candidature. But while dismissing the complaint, Justice Stephen Musota held that Mr Kabenge used a wrong procedure of judicial review to challenge the outcome of an election.

“The motion before me is incompetent for seeking constitutional declarations in the High Court as well as award punitive or exemplary damages,” Justice Musota ruled. “The circumstances under which the complaints by the applicant (Mr Kabenge) arose do not warrant proceedings under judicial review,” he added.

Daily Monitor: