“All dismissed MPs should stay in Parliament,” EC says court misinterpreted the law to dismiss MPs

Court throws six MPs out of Parliament

Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri is one of the affected MPs.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has appealed to the Supreme Court to allow the six dismissed Members of Parliament that include;  Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri, Jeema), Elioda Tumwesigye (Sheema, NRM), Patrick Ochan (Apac, UPC), Abraham Lokii (Kotido, NRM), Tarsis Rwaburindore (Ibanda, NRM) and Hashim Sulaiman (Nebbi, NRM) to stay in the August House until there plea is heard by the Constitutional Court.

Hamidu Lugoloobi, lawyer of the EC says the Constitutional Court misinterpreted the law when giving its verdict. He says the Supreme Court should also overrule the decision of the Constitution Court so that the MPs can confidently represent their areas.

On December 27, 2019, a panel of five judges that included Deputy Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo, Justice Kenneth Kakuru, Justice Cheborion Barishaki, Justice Fredrick Engonda-Ntende and Justice Christopher Madrama delivered a judgment faulting the Electoral Commission for organising elections, in new areas, before they were due.

The judges said the six MPs were voted in Constituencies that under law do not exist as all existing constituencies had been filled in the 2016 general elections. They contended that the affected MPs can only be elected to Parliament in the coming 2021 general elections.

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