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 of 2015 (arising from Reference No. 16 of 2014-MLDI&19 others v Ronald Ssembuusi-deceased & AG of Uganda was heard on 30thJuly, 2016.The UN and African Union Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression and a group of different national, regional and international organisations led by the Medial Legal Defence Initiative in London (Including Centre for Public Interest Law) being interested in the matter applied for leave of Court to file amicus briefs. These were admitted as friends of Court. The attorney General appealed the decision giving rise to several other applications;
- Appeal No. 1/2018 (Arising from Application No. 4/2015 & Reference No. 16/2-14) – Attorney General of Uganda v MLDI & 19 Others (Appellate Division) Attorney General appealed against the ruling of the First Instance Division granting the respondents leave to be joined as amici to Reference No. 16/2014 currently before court. Filed in January 2018.
- Application No. 1/2018 (Arising from Appeal No. 1/2018, Application No. 4/2015 & Reference No. 16/2014) – MLDI & 19 Others v Attorney General (Appellate Division) We filed an application to strike out the appeal of the AG filed out of time, with no competent Notice of Appeal. Filed in January 2018
- Application No. 2/2018 (Arising from Appeal No. 1 of 2018, Application No. 4/2015 & Reference No. 16/2-14) – Attorney General of Uganda v MLDI & 19 Others (Appellate Division). Attorney General filed an application for Court to validate the filing and service of the applicant’s record of appeal out of time. Filed in February 2018
