High Court Judge Sets Date To Hear Editors’ Guild Case Against Gov’t, Media Council

By Andrew Irumba

Kampala: The High Court of Uganda in Kampala has issued a notice of motion revealing that it will be ready on January 11, 2021, to hear a case that was filed by Editors’ Guild Uganda and Centre Of Public Interest against the government of Uganda over Media Council’s dubious orders on accreditation of journalists.

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According to the application, the applicants want a Judicial review and an order to quash the directives of the media council of Uganda issued relating to the same, arguing that they intend to curtail the press freedom and civic space.

In addition, they want Court to order prohibition and permanent injunction restraining the respondent’s security agencies from implementing the illegal, irregular, and irrational directives of the media council.

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Now the Court says that under Article 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, the application will be heard on the 11, Jan 2021 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon/afternoon or soon thereafter.

Read Court’s Notice Of Motion In Full

“(Under Article 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, 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)

TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Court will be moved on the 11 day Jan… 2021 at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon/afternoon or soon thereafter as Counsel for the Applicants can be heard on an application for judicial reliefs that: –

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(a) An order of certiorari does issue quashing the directives of the Media Council of Uganda issued in the “Guidelines for Media Council of Uganda Accreditation of Journalists for Coverage of 2021 Elections and Other State Events” in the press statements of 10th December 2020 and 20th December 2020 for being illegal (ultra vires), procedurally irregular and irrational

(b) An order of certiorari doth issue quashing the illegal registration and accreditation of journalists to cover the 2021 general elections.”