2021 Electoral Petitions: 32 Judges Lined Up for Task

The Principal Judge Hon. Flavian Zeija has assigned 32 judges to handle election petitions arising from the 14th January 2021 polls.

Addressing the media in Kampala, the Judiciary spokesperson, Jameson Karemani revealed that these are set to handle 155 petitions at both parliamentary and local council level.

He reveals that the Judiciary has set 16th August as the day to start the exercise of handling the petitions and issue hearing notices thereafter. 

Mr. Karemani says Mbale with the highest number of petitions totaling 31 has been assigned 6 Judges with other areas like Kampala having 4 judges while others have between 1 – 3 Judges.

He further said that only parties to the petitions, advocates, and witnesses specifically summoned shall attend court, adding that all courts shall, where possible establish a temporary separate space at the court as a waiting place with social distance for the parties whose petition hearing may not be ongoing at the time.

“The sitting positions in Court halls shall be conspicuously demarcated to observe the social distance. The petitions shall be cause-listed for specific times, one after the other to avoid crowds at Courts. Where the parties and the advocates in a single election petition exceed 10 in number, the trial judge shall use audio-visual facilities where it exists or use open space where possible,” Mr Karemani said.

Journalists interested in covering the petitions shall be accredited and guided by the Registrar of the specific Court in consultation with the Public Relations Officer.

“All parties, lawyers, witnesses and journalists attending Court must observe SOP’s on mitigation of spread of COVID-19 as set by the Ministry of Health,” he added.