Ezra Kashumbusha.
KAMPALA, January 10, 2023 | The Uganda Law Society has announced its Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) scheduled for Friday, January 12, 2024, to be conducted virtually. Isaac Atukunda, the Honorary Secretary of the Uganda Law Society, highlighted the financial considerations behind this decision to hold the meeting virtually, emphasizing the need to reduce costs associated with a physical meeting.
“Due to the financial implications of holding a physical general meeting, the council has resolved to hold the EOGM as a virtual meeting to reduce the costs,” noted Atukunda. He clarified that only selected Uganda Law Society members and petitioners would be invited to attend the meeting physically at a venue to be communicated later.
The meeting is to discuss the petition by some members which alleges instances of gross misconduct, incompetence, bias, irregularities, and illegalities attributed by His Lordship Byaruhanga Jesse Rugyema concerning the Tilega Project Affected Persons. A group of lawyers, led by Kizza Eron, allege that Justice Byaruhanga violated established legal principles by delivering a verdict in a land case within four days without affording the accused parties an opportunity to respond.
According to the petitioners, such actions by a judge undermine the rule of law and fundamental human rights. The ruling in question, issued on December 8, 2023, pertained to 42 landowners who contested the proposed compensation rates, thereby hindering the relocation of oil infrastructure as part of the Tilenga project by Total Energies.
Justice Byaruhanga directed the government, through the Ministry of Energy and the Attorney General, to deposit compensation funds with the court, effectively turning 59.674 acres of land vacant for petroleum grounds under the Tilenga Project.
As the legal community gears up for this landmark meeting, the hope is that it will foster transparency, uphold the principles of justice, and address concerns raised by members of the Uganda Law Society.
