[2011] UGCC 5

[2011] UGCC 5

The court held that Article 50(4) of the Constitution expressly vests the mandate to make laws for the enforcement of rights and freedoms in Parliament, not the Rules Committee. The use of the word 'shall' in Article 50(4) makes this a mandatory requirement. The Judicature Act and its rules, including Section 41,...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2011] UGCC 5
Parties
Petitioner: Bukenya Church Embrose; Respondent: Attorney General
Court
Constitutional Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Constitutional Petition No. 26 of 2010
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Reference / Ruling on Reference From High Court
Outcome
Reference answered in the affirmative; the Rules Committee contravened Article 50(4) of the Constitution.
Legal Topics
Enforcement of Fundamental Rights, Rule Making Powers, Judicial Procedure, Parliamentary Mandate
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Enforcement of Fundamental Rights Rule Making Powers Judicial Procedure Parliamentary Mandate

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Parties

Bukenya Church Embrose

Petitioner

Attorney General

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Reference / Ruling on Reference From High Court

  1. 1 Whether the Rules Committee, in enacting the Judicature (Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) (Enforcement Procedure) Rules S.I. No. 55 of 2008, contravened Article 50(4) of the Constitution.
  2. 2 Whether the Rules Committee usurped the powers of Parliament by making rules for enforcement of rights and freedoms under Article 50.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that Article 50(4) of the Constitution expressly vests the mandate to make laws for the enforcement of rights and freedoms in Parliament, not the Rules Committee. The use of the word 'shall' in Article 50(4) makes this a mandatory requirement. The Judicature Act and its rules, including Section 41, empower the Rules Committee to regulate practice and procedure in the Judiciary, but not to make substantive laws for enforcement of rights and freedoms as envisaged under Article 50. Since Parliament has not enacted such a law, the Rules Committee's enactment of S.I. No. 55 of 2008 was ultra vires and contravened Article 50(4). However, the absence of such a law does not suspend...

Court Disposition

Reference answered in the affirmative; the Rules Committee contravened Article 50(4) of the Constitution.

Orders

  • The question referred is answered in the affirmative: the Rules Committee contravened Article 50(4) by enacting S.I. No. 55 of 2008.
  • Existing procedural laws continue to apply until Parliament enacts laws under Article 50(4).