Prime
Court hearings, appearances suspended over coronavirus
Remanded. The former Security minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde (2nd right), is led into a prisons van after appearing before Grade One Magistrate Court at City Hall in Kampala on March 18, 2020. Gen Tumukunde was charged with treason and illegal possession of firearms and remanded to Luzira prison until March 30. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Former security minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde and other remandees may have to wait longer for their court appearances after the Chief Justice on Thursday suspended all court hearings and appearances for at least 32 days with effect from March 20 in attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
This is in line with the March 17 directive issued by President Museveni on the prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 in Uganda, according to Chief Justice Bart Katureebe.
Gen Tumukunde was on Wednesday
Presidential hopeful Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde remanded
He was charged with treason and unlawful possession of firearms
with treason and unlawful possession of firearms at City Hall Court in Kampala. He was scheduled to return to court on March 30 for further mention of his case and possibly bail application.
However, during this time, prisoners and remandees will not be presented to court but where possible, proceedings may be conducted using video link, according to the Chief justice.
Chief Justice Bart Katureebe. FILE PHOTO
"For cases at the stage of submissions, the respective courts may advise the counsel/parties to file written submissions," he said in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon.
"All execution proceedings are hereby suspended for the same period of time except where attachment has already taken place. Courts will continue to handle certificates of urgency and taking plea for seruious cases and bail applications. Only the applicant and his/her lawyer, or in the case of bail application, the sureties will be allowed in court," Justice Katureebe added.
The Chief Justice also suspended foreign travels for all Judiciary staff, conferences, workshops, meetings and training programmes for at least 32 days.
"The guidelines may be revised from time to time in accordance with the Ntional policy directives," he added.
