120
Kabumba/Application of African Union (human rights) law in Uganda
court. However, in his own determination of the point, the High Court
Judge did not rely on this case.
In Legal Brains Trust (LBT) Ltd v Attorney General and National
Council of Sports,214 another 2014 High Court case, counsel for the
respondent relied on the EACJ decision in Timothy Alvin Kakkoko v
the Secretary General of the East African Community215 to contend
that, in determining the award of a temporary injunction, a Court had
to be satisfied that the applicant had a prima facie case with a
likelihood of success. Again, in determining the matter, the High Court
did not rely upon this authority.
The trend of judicial avoidance of EACJ jurisprudence was further
evident in 2015 High Court case of National Oil Distributors Ltd v
Attorney General.216 In that matter, counsel for the respondent cited
the EACJ’s decision in East African Law Society217 with regard to the
nature of an interlocutory order, as distinct from a final order. Once
again, however, in determining the question, the High Court Judge did
not himself depend upon this authority.
Most recently, in the 2016 High Court case of Hon. Acire
Christopher v Hon Okumu Reagan Ronald and Electoral
Commission218 counsel for the first respondent referred to the case of
Sitenda Sebalu219 relating to contempt of court for non-compliance of
court orders and stipulated that in the instant case, no contempt could
arise as the first respondent had not been obligated to do any act by the
orders in question. However, in determining the matter, the High Court
did not expressly rely on this authority.
The division in Ugandan jurisprudence regarding the reception of
EACJ case law appears to run right down the middle: of the ten cases in
which EACJ case law was cited, in five cases the courts relied on the
EACJ authorities, while in the other five, the courts appear to have
ignored those authorities. The apparent deadlock might be broken in
favour of judicial indifference to EACJ case law, when it is considered
that on the one hand, three of the five pro-EACJ decisions (Kabaza,
Akidi and Toolit) were rendered by the same Judge – Opio Aweri, while
on the other hand, of the five EACJ-neutral decisions, only two
(Katuntu and National Oil) were by the same Judge – Izama Madrama.
As such, it could be said that, on balance, however slight, Ugandan
courts have been more indifferent than receptive to EACJ
jurisprudence.
214
215
216
217
218
219
High Court Misc Appln No.638 of 2014, arising out of Misc Cause No.54 of 2014
(Ruling of Judge Elizabeth Ibanda Nahamya).
Application 5 of 2012.
High Court Misc Cause 241 of 2015 (Ruling by Judge Christopher Izama
Madrama).
n 213.
Election Petition 4 of 2016 (decision of Judge David Matovu).
n 207.