This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On November 1, 2019, the East African Court of Justice dealt a blow to Ugandan citizen Male Mabirizi in his bid to stop the implementation of a law allowing President Yoweri Museveni to contest the presidency again in 2021.
The court dismissed Mabirizi's request to strike out a document supporting the response by Uganda's Attorney General, citing that it was not alien to the EAC Treaty and the court's Rules of Procedure, and that it was filed and served within the required time.
The Uganda Constitution (Amendment) Act 2018 removed clause 102b on presidential age limit, paving the way for President Museveni to run in 2021.
Mabirizi had argued that the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga, had filed the affidavit on June 24, four days after the 45-day deadline had expired, and that the response should be struck out as a result.
However, the court declined to strike out the affidavit in its entirety, instead extending time for the AG to file his response.
Mabirizi had also sought an interim order to restrain the Uganda government from implementing the provisions of the Uganda Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2018, and to halt the 2020/2021 general elections until the case was determined.
