The Speaker of Parliament of Uganda on Tuesday 10th November 2015, briefed the House on the Supreme Court ruling in regard to the four Members of Parliament who were expelled from their party, and the ruling of the Constitutional Court which erred while interpreting Article 83 (1) (g) of the Constitution.
“The principle of separation of powers should be duly observed to avoid erosion of the constitutional functions of other arms of government. In the instant case, the effect of interpreting the Legal Opinion of the Attorney General, a member of the Executive, relating particularly, to the manner in which the Speaker of Parliament, the head of the Legislative arm of Government, should carry out his or her constitutional functions, as binding clearly violates the principle of separation of powers” she said.
She further informed Members that the judgment was a land mark decision in the jurisprudence of Uganda as a country and indeed as a Parliament.
“It asserts to our independence as a legislature in the execution of our constitutional obligations, guaranteeing the freedom and security of tenure of Members of Parliament”.
Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government Chief Whip, expressed pleasure and informed the House that three of the four Members had on their request, been allowed back to the NRM. She requested the Speaker to allow them return to the government side of the House.
Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo thanked Members that stood by the four of them during the court case and expulsion from the party, since 2013.
“I would like to thank the Speaker for standing her ground and I thank the Government as well for respecting and abiding by the law. I would also like to thank all the Members of this House who stood by us during this time. I want to say that this victory is not just for the four of us but for Parliament as a whole. We actually didn’t win but I’m glad the law was observed” he said.