The East Africa Law Society has slammed Uganda's judiciary for yanking four crucial appeals from the Court of Appeal schedule. The regional bar association represents over 45,000 legal professionals across East Africa and called the move a clear violation of Uganda's legal duties. EALS President Ramadhan Abubakar branded the action as procedural sabotage that destroys public confidence in the courts. The organization warned it would seek regional and international remedies if the appeals remain blocked. The controversy erupted after Court of Appeal Registrar HW Rukundo Allen Owembabazi removed the cases just days before their July 10 hearing date.
The registrar claimed the appeals were erroneously listed but ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe fired back that the decision was procedurally flawed and legally indefensible. EALS backed the criticism and pointed out that the registrar violated court rules by making unilateral changes without judicial approval. The four removed appeals deal with sensitive constitutional issues about how the Uganda Law Society operates. These cases involve enforcement of court orders for general meetings and the society's role in nominating judicial commission members. EALS emphasized that blocking these appeals cripples the law society's ability to function properly.
The regional body demanded that Uganda's judiciary reinstate all four appeals immediately and investigate the registrar's conduct. EALS also called for urgent talks between the judiciary and the law society before July ends. The organization supported a planned peaceful gathering of ULS members at the Court of Appeal. Legal tensions have escalated over the past year following disputes about general meetings and judicial appointments.
The registrar claimed the appeals were erroneously listed but ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe fired back that the decision was procedurally flawed and legally indefensible. EALS backed the criticism and pointed out that the registrar violated court rules by making unilateral changes without judicial approval. The four removed appeals deal with sensitive constitutional issues about how the Uganda Law Society operates. These cases involve enforcement of court orders for general meetings and the society's role in nominating judicial commission members. EALS emphasized that blocking these appeals cripples the law society's ability to function properly.
The regional body demanded that Uganda's judiciary reinstate all four appeals immediately and investigate the registrar's conduct. EALS also called for urgent talks between the judiciary and the law society before July ends. The organization supported a planned peaceful gathering of ULS members at the Court of Appeal. Legal tensions have escalated over the past year following disputes about general meetings and judicial appointments.
