The Constitutional Court of Uganda is holding a one-day special session in Kampala to hear 12 constitutional petitions, in a move aimed at expediting the determination of cases and reducing backlog.
The session is being presided over by a panel of five Justices, including Cheborion Barishaki, Oscar John Kihika, Margaret Tibulya, Cornelia Kakooza Sabiiti, and Musa Ssekaana.
According to the cause list issued by the Deputy Registrar, Jane Mugala, the session is handling a range of petitions raising significant constitutional questions.
Among the key matters is a petition challenging a directive issued by the Chief Justice in September 2023, which instructed courts not to renew Letters of Administration in estates previously governed under the 1912 Buganda Succession Law.
The Court is also hearing a case in which the petitioner accuses a respondent of publishing false and offensive statements on X (formerly Twitter), allegedly undermining the country’s coffee value addition programme in contravention of constitutional provisions.
Other petitions include a challenge to an administrative decision involving the transfer of a trial judge from the Commercial Division, as well as a case contesting sections of the Penal Code Act on indecent assault, which the petitioner argues are discriminatory.
The session is further handling a petition by FIDA Uganda challenging regulations that require mandatory pregnancy testing for students in health training institutions, citing violations of rights to dignity and privacy.
Additional matters include a petition contesting provisions of the Presidential Elections Act and nomination guidelines, with claims that fees and signature requirements are excessive and limit public participation.
The Court is also hearing a petition challenging laws criminalising abortion, with the applicants arguing that the provisions are discriminatory and fail to consider exceptional circumstances such as rape, incest, and mental health.
Petitioners and their legal representatives are present as proceedings continue.
