Uganda’s FDC party to defy Justice Kavuma’s ban on prayers
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has said it will defy any unlawful orders against it following the decision by the deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma on Friday to ban the party’s public protest activities, including the weekly prayers at its headquarters. PHOTO|FILE
What you need to know:
This position was announced by both the party spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda and former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye yesterday. This followed Justice Kavuma’s exparte order issued on Friday evening placing an interim ban on the party’s “defiance” activities.
Kampala. The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has said it will defy any unlawful orders against it following the decision by the deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma on Friday to ban the party’s public protest activities, including the weekly prayers at its headquarters.
This position was announced by both the party spokesperson Ibrahim Semujju Nganda and former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye yesterday. This followed Justice Kavuma’s exparte order issued on Friday evening placing an interim ban on the party’s “defiance” activities.
The judge’s orders to FDC include no further holding of the Tuesday weekly prayers that have been a norm since the declaration of the February 18 Presidential election results and no media house to carry the said ‘defiance campaign’ message.
Addressing the press from his Kasangati home yesterday, Dr Besigye said the orders were laughable and his party would issue a position on the judge’s ruling after a meeting on Monday next week. “He has decreed that there would be no prayers. Can you imagine? Sometimes I wonder if I am leaving in the right country at the right time. I can’t believe that a person in 2016 can sit anywhere and order that people shouldn’t pray,” Dr Besigye told the media at his home.
“It is horrifying that a court can make far-reaching restrictions on citizens rights without hearing from the citizens affected,” he added.
Dr Besigye said Article 43 of the Constitution upon which Justice Kavuma premised his order doesn’t allow anybody to take back people’s rights capriciously.
On Friday evening at 6:30pm, which was beyond the official court working time of 5pm, deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma issued an ex-parte order against FDC party and its former presidential flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye over the ‘defiance campaign’ (NMG)
