November 29, 2023
KAMPALA, Uganda | In an important stride toward justice, the Constitutional Court, led by Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, marked a critical moment in the legal battle surrounding the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 (AHA 2023). Yesterday, November 28, the court engaged in a comprehensive conferencing session to address four petitions challenging the Act and eleven related applications.
A notable decision during the proceedings was the consolidation of all four petitions, streamlining the legal process for efficiency. By mutual agreement, a panel of five justices will preside over the consolidated petition against the AHA 2023, signaling a collaborative effort to expedite the proceedings.
To manage the number of amicus curiae applications, the court, with the consent of the applicants, reduced them from eleven to five. Because of the objections by the Attorney General, all applications were forwarded to a panel of five justices for careful consideration.
In another facet of the proceedings, objections were raised by both the Attorney General and petitioners regarding the inclusion of Pastor Martin Ssempa and Eng. Stephen Langa as Co-Respondents. These objections will be subjected to thorough deliberation by a panel of five justices before the full hearing.
Recognizing the importance of completeness in the legal files, the court granted leave to all petitioners and applicants to rectify any deficiencies by December 1, 2023. This move ensures a fair and thorough examination of the cases.
The final conferencing on all matters is scheduled for December 11, 2023. Following this, the files will be presented to the full bench of five justices for the subsequent hearing, underlining the court’s commitment to a meticulous and just resolution.
