Lawyers Petition Constitutional Court, Want Public Order Management Act Repealed

Human Right Advocates have asked the Constitutional Court to repeal the 2013 Public Order Management Act (POMA) from Uganda’s Law books for offending fundamental human rights to free speech and assembly.

Through Kiiza and Mugisha Company Advocates, the Lawyers led by Grace Mark Tusubira and Nabatanzi Cissy Ssempa argue that much as the Constitutional Court already nullified some provisions of the POMA, this time the Lawyers want the entire Act that gives Police powers to regulate Cultural, Social and Political gatherings to be wiped out in public interest.

They note that the Petition is timely in the current political season given that Police has already blocked some election candidates from addressing gatherings while hiding under POMA and enforcing Ministry of Health guidelines on COVID-19 Pandemic.

However the Lawyers contend that unless the entire act is scrapped from Uganda’s Law Books, the Police will continue to infringe on the Citizens rights to free speech and assembly even after we have overcome COVID-19.