Nakawa high court judge, Faith Mwondha has set another date for the hearing of an application by four Non Governmental Organizations seeking to join an appeal in the access to information case.
In March 2010, Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi and Angelo Izama both journalists working with The Daily Monitor, appealed to the high court after the Nakawa chief magistrate, Deo John Ssejemba dismissed an application seeking to compel the attorney general to avail information on oil agreements on grounds that it lacked merit.
James Nangwala, the lawyer representing the four NGOs, including African Institute for Energy Governance, World Voices, Bulisa Initiative for Rural Development Organization and Navigators of Development Association, told court that his clients had sworn the affidavits and were ready to proceed with the case.
George Kalemera, the state attorney, however argued that the state is finding problems in proceeding with the case on grounds that the attorney general had not been served with the ruling of the magistrate’s court from where the appeal stems.
Kalemera requested for an adjournment to allow the attorney general file a fresh affidavit after getting the magistrates’ court’s ruling.
But James Nagwala argued that seeking an adjournment is a plot to delay the court process and create a backlog at court. He said the copy of the ruling was attached on the application that was served to the attorney general.
However, Faith Mwondha, the presiding judge set 21st October as the new date for hearing the application, noting that the attorney general needed fair justice.
Adonijah Bemanyisa, another lawyer on the legal team representing the four NGOs told Uganda Radio Network that the law of departure in the civil procedure allows that when one party loses in a case, and goes for an appeal, other friends of court who are competent on the subject can be allowed in to mediate between the court and the party that lost on the importance of the case.
He says as friends of court or Amicus curiae, the four NGOs are seeking for court indulgence on the importance of making available and sharing information on the oil agreements, which were signed between the government and the oil companies operating in the country.
