The High Court in Bushenyi has lifted an interim injunction that had halted the operations of the Bushenyi District Executive Committee and the District Service Commission, clearing the way for the district leadership to resume its functions pending the determination of the main case.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, His Worship Andrew Kabombo, dismissed an application for an interim injunction after finding that the applicants had failed to present sufficient substantive evidence to justify the orders.
The injunction had been issued following an application by five Bushenyi District councillors, Douglas Mucunguzi, David Kakama, Anthony Asingwiire Katwarana, Denis Nayebare and Allan Arinda, who are challenging the conduct of the District Council through a judicial review application.
The councillors argued that the continued operation of the District Executive Committee and other district business committees was unlawful because they were allegedly constituted without following the prescribed legal procedures. They also contended that allowing the committees to continue functioning while the matter was before court would undermine good governance and disadvantage the people of Bushenyi.
In their application, the petitioners further alleged that members of the committees had already begun receiving facilitation to carry out district duties despite what they described as irregular appointments, raising concerns about possible financial loss to the district.
However, the court declined to maintain the interim orders, effectively allowing the District Executive Committee and the District Service Commission to resume their operations as the substantive judicial review case proceeds.
The main suit, which seeks a judicial review of the Bushenyi District Council’s conduct of business and the legality of the committee selection process, is yet to be heard and determined.Bushenyi District Chairperson Prosper Twebaze welcomed the ruling, saying the injunction had stalled key district activities, including monitoring and supervision of government projects.
“We are now ready to resume our mandate and continue monitoring and supervising projects for the benefit of the people,” Twebaze said.One of the petitioners, Douglas Mucunguzi, said they respect the court’s decision on the interim application and will await the hearing of the main judicial review petition, where they intend to pursue their challenge to the committee selection process. URN