The two consolidated applications seeking to quash a ban on open-air campaigns have been thrown out by the High Court in Kampala.
The applications filed separately by Dr Emmanuel Diini and presidential aspirant Joseph Kabuleta, came after the Electoral Commission announced that persons campaigning for political offices would not be allowed to hold open-air campaigns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, the commission advised aspirants to use
virtual platforms to reach their constituents.
But Kabuleta argued that the guidelines were unrealistic and contravened
provisions of the Parliamentary, Presidential and Electoral Commissions Act.
They added that by banning open-air campaigns, the
commission is unjustifiably restricting freedom of speech and imposing
unconstitutional limitations on the public.
The Electoral Commission asked the court to dismiss the matter on grounds that
the applications were filed wrongly before the High Court.
The applicant’s lawyers led by Mr. Daniel Walyemera had asked the court to send the file to the Constitutional Court for interpretation of the issues in the petitions.
But Justice Nambayo rejected the prayer on account that there was nothing constitutional to interpret. ENDS .