The Supreme Court of Uganda has on Friday 24th announced that the judgment for Constitutional Appeal No. 02 of 2021, involving the Attorney General as the appellant and Hon. Michael Kabaziguruka as the respondent, will be delivered on January 31, 2025, at 9:30 AM.
The official Judgment Notice, signed and sealed by the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, has been served to key parties, including the Attorney General and the legal teams representing former Nakawa MP Michael Kabaziguruka including M/S Lukwago & Co. Advocates, M/S Rwakafuzi & Co. Advocates, and M/S Alaka & Co. Advocates.
This constitutional appeal has drawn national attention, primarily because of its implications for governance, the rule of law, and the rights of public officials in Uganda.
The General Military Court Martial sitting at Makindye had arraigned Kabaziguruka in 2021 for offenses that were allegedly committed between February and June of 2016.
They alleged that the Kabaziguruka and 20 military men and officers had conspired to commit treachery and remove the government of the day by use of firearms.
Kabaziguruka appealed in the constitutional court against this arraignment as he argued that he is not a military man, to be tried in a military tribunal. The constitutional court agreed with him.
However, the Attorney General appealed against the decision of the court in the supreme court. Since then, there has been deafening silence on the matter.
In the meantime, Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate was kidnapped by Ugandan and Kenyan security agencies in November 2024 and also arraigned before the tribunal, and accused of the same offenses it accused Kabaziguruka of.
Besigye has refused to take plea, insisting that the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over him, as a civilian.
The push and shove has kept Besigye in detention for more than three months now, and being joined by his lawyer over charges of contempt of court.
Various protests to the supreme court by human rights activists have been quelled by arrests and detentions.
