Stick to the Law

Following the famous Supreme Court ruling that out lawed Act 13 of 2000, the Movement risks being declared illegal should the laws on which the current Movement and the election of the same government be found and declared unconstitutional. What remains legal however are the statutory bodies that are constitutional. The Inspector General of Police, the Auditor General, Director of Public Prosecutions and the like. These autonomous organisations are provided with powers by the Constitution to discharge their duties with nor regard or favour to anybody or authority. They can discharge those functions only if they stick to the law.
Last week, the Inspector General of Police, Major General Katumba Wamala, was quoted by the press that he had directed the local administrator and police to disperse meetings of citizens if called by political parties that are not registered ostensibly under Political Parties and Organisations Act (POA) 202. This act was challenged by Semwogerere et al and the challenge was successful with the Constituton Court declaring articles 18 and 19 of the same Act null and void. These articles prevented parties from canvassing to members at grassroots and campaigning during elections. The same court ruling declared Movement as a political organisation rather than a system of governance. The justices gave no order to the later ruling.
Dr. Rwanyarare et all challenged the same POA and the case is still before the Constitutional Court mainly because he Attorney General lost a preliminary application and chose to appeal to the Supreme Court. This has been heard and judgement is awaited. The Constitutional Court, however gave an injunction to the applicants that before the case is deposed of government should not force us to have our parties registered in accordance with the Act since we were challenging it and the case is not disposed of yet.
The Inspector General of Police is expected for enforcement the laws of Uganda as contained first in the Supreme Law i.e. the Constitutional and those in statutes as passed by Parliament but as interpreted by Courts of law in their rulings and orders.