High Court in Kampala has today dismissed an application that sought to have legal services classified as essential service during the current lockdown. Court found that the application had been overtaken by events and was, therefore, moot.
On April 23, Civil Society Actors petitioned the Chief Justice on the necessity to have Legal Services classified as essential services amidst the continued lockdown and the need to guarantee individuals’ right to a fair hearing.
While announcing the lockdown in March, President Museveni listed various essential services providers that included; Health workers, National Water, Media houses, Umeme, the army, Police, and security companies, waste collection and cargo trucks that were only allowed free movement even in lockdown.
Legal service providers felt left out given that Museveni had allowed courts to go on with sessions.
In Museveni’s last address that happened this week on Monday, he allowed more sectors to operate. He ordered the Uganda Law Society to select only 30 lawyers at a given time to attend court sessions. However, he asked them to either walk or ride bicycles to work.