Minister of State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Princess Persis Namuganza has filed a High Court petition contesting Parliament’s move to strip her of the ministerial post.
348 Members of Parliament on January 23 voted yes to censure Namuganza over contempt of Parliament.
The plenary was presided over by Deputy Speaker Hon Thomas Tayebwa after recommendation by an ad hoc committee that the minister be censured for her role in the Naguru-Nakawa land allocation and contempt of parliament.
In their report, the committee led by Mwine Mpaka stated that Namuganza failed in her duty to at all times conduct herself in a manner which would maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker then had to forward the resolution of Parliament to the Executive for signing.
However, before the President appends his signature, the beleaguered Minister has since filed High Court petition for judicial review.
Suing the government lawyer, Attorney General Hon Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Minister Namuganza seeks as follows:
An order of Certiorari doth issue quashing the findings and recommendations of the Select Committee of Parliament on the Motion for a resolution of Parliament to Pass a Vote of Censure against the Applicant and any resolution of Parliament based or arising from the same.
An order of Certiorari doth issue quashing the resolution of Parliament censuring the Applicant from office of a Minister in the Government of Uganda.
An order doth issue expunging the impugned report of the select committee on the motion for resolution of parliament to pass a vote of censure against the Applicant from the records of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
A permanent injunction doth issue stopping the Respondent and all its agents from executing the said resolution of Parliament and the report of the select committee to censure the Applicant.
General damages be paid to the Applicant.
Costs of the Application.
Any other relief as court may deem fit.
This website understands that petition was filed last Friday and her legal officers who hail from Busoga but have office on Entebbe Road are yet to serve the Attorney General so that Court fixes dates for case hearing.
Officials privy to the petition say, Namuganza has a good case.
Since the matter is before Court the President will wait for the ruling before he signs Parliament’s resolution.