By Ruth Anderah
High Court judge Musa Ssekaana is today expected to deliver a ruling on a case filed by Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago seeking orders to reverse a decision by the Electoral Commission to suspend campaign meetings in Kampala city and several other districts.
According to the Electoral Commission, the decision was taken due to the surging numbers of Covid -19 infections.
In the case filed on December 28th, 2020, before the civil division, Lukwago describes the commission’s decision contained in a press statement of December 26th, 2020 as irrational and an infringement on his rights to associate, interface and convince the electorate to vote for him for the 3rd time in the office of the Lord mayor.
Lukwago contends that as a candidate and the political head of the city, he was never given a fair hearing before the Electoral body came up with such a decision that he feels deprives candidates the right to disseminate their ideas to citizens, which is a fundamental component of a free and fair election.
The Mayor further says the advice given by the EC that candidates should campaign through media outlets (radios and Tvs) in the contentious districts is not tenable since the government has not taken any measures to ensure that radio or televison sets are distributed among citizens despite the fact that a huge budget to purchase them was allocated by parliament during the last quarter.
Lukwago wants the High court to intervene, quash the decision by EC, issue an injunctive order stopping the Inspector General of police who was directed to ensure that no campaign meetings occurs in some districts from implementing the same.
He also wants the EC to pay him general damages for the inconvenience as his campaign schedules have been disrupted by this decision.
