Case Tracker

Introduction This Application sought to quash and challenge the legality of the directives to register and accredit journalists to cover the 2021 general elections and other State events by the Media Council of Uganda. Background The applicants (Editor’s Guild Uganda & Centre for Public Interest Law) challenged the legality of...

Introduction The Application is brought under sections 33 and 36 of the Judicature Act, Cap 13, Section 98 of the Civil Procedure Act Cap 71, and Rules 3 (1) (a) and 6 (1) of the Judicature (Judicial Review) Rules, 2009) Background On April 28th, 2020, the Minister of Energy and...

Introduction This Petition is brought under Article 137 (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda and the Constitution Court (Petition and Reference) Rules 2005, Statutory Instrument No.91 of 2005. Background The petitioner (CEPIL) challenges the provisions of the Non-Government Organization Act 2016. The petitioner alleges that...

Introduction This Petition is brought under Article 137 (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda and the Constitution Court (Petition and Reference) Rules 2005, Statutory Instrument No.91 of 2005. Background The Petitioner (CEPIL) instituted this suit to challenge the provisions of the Press and Journalist Act,...

Introduction This Petition is brought under Article 137 (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda and the Constitution Court (Petition and Reference) Rules 2005, Statutory Instrument No.91 of 2005. Background The petition (CEPIL) is aggrieved by the various occasions between 2016 and 2019, security agencies have...

Petition challenging pro-longed pre-trial detentions, the lacuna in the law on the maximum time for pre-trial detention after committal: - freedom from deprivation of personal liberty.  We seeking a declaration that the prolonged pre-trial detention is unconstitutional. Long pretrial detention denies the detainee the right to personal liberty and freedom....

The petition challenges the acts of the Members of Parliament of Uganda of introducing clause21 (1) (q) (a) of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 (Now Act), which seeks to exempt MPs allowances from income tax, as being in contravention of Article 92 and 79 (1) of the Constitution of...

The Petition challenges the sub judice rule that bars detailed public discussion of a case before courts of law. In a Constitutional court petition, CEPIL claims government institutions are using the sub judice rule to deny people public information beyond what is demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society.That...

On December 2nd, 2014, Ronald Ssembuusi, a radio journalist, petitioned the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania challenging the continued use of sections 179 and 180 of the Penal Code of Uganda. The Applicant passed away on the 2ndJanuary, 2015. An amended reference was filed. Application No. 2...

The Applicant instituted this matter in the High Court for declarations that the arbitrary acts of accosting, slapping and the unlawful search, arrest and assault of the applicant by the Respondent (DPC) of Wandegeya and other police officers on orders given by the Respondent infringed on the applicant’s rights protected...

The petition challenges the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2018, to wit Articles 3, 8, 10, and the manner of proceedings at the floor of Parliament in passing of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 2017, as well as the acts of security forces in entering...

The petition challenges sections 7, 9 (3),11 (2), (3) & (4), 13, 14 (5), 16 (4)(d), 46 (2), 60 (5), 61(b), 63(2) & (4), 67(1)(f ) &(2), 72(1) & (2) (c),  of the Uganda Communications Act No. 1 of 2013 as contravening Articles 29(1), 21 26,28(12),42  of the Constitution of...

Petition against certain provisions of the Press and Journalists Act Cap 105 seeking the Court’s interpretation of the constitutionality of the impugned provisions. The Petition challenges provisions establishing two government-controlled regulatory bodies with wide and significant discretionary powers over the media; restricting the practice of journalism by requiring compulsory licensing...

The Petitioners filed this petition in December 2011 challenging the constitutionality of the then Section 59 of the Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Act Cap 150, the confidentiality clauses in the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreements between Uganda and the various oil companies, and the ‘Guidelines for accessing Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs)...

This CEPIL case sought to challenge the constitutionality of the appointment processes of the then Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda. The petition argued that the appointment and subsequent approval of the then Deputy Chief Justice by the appointments committee in Parliament and His Lordship’s continued occupation of...

This CEPIL research and supported petition filed under the umbrella of CISTIJ, seeks to streamline the processes within which the Judiciary receives its funding. The constitution observes and provides for a self-accounting status of the institution of the Judiciary.  The Executive is only required to make comments on the budget...