Kisoro Chief Magistrate Court Sets Ruling Date for Market Dispute Case Between MP Kamara and Mupaka Town Council

Summary:

• Hon. Kamara sued Mupaka Town Council last month, seeking court intervention regarding what he terms as unfair treatment by the Mupaka Town Council administration and its agencies.

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KISORO: The Kisoro Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by His Worship Komakech Kenneth, has set July 10, 2024, as the ruling date for the case between the Bufumbira North Member of Parliament, Hon. Kamara John Nizeyimana, and Mupaka Town Council over disputes concerning Kamara Market.

Hon. Kamara sued Mupaka Town Council last month, seeking court intervention regarding what he terms as unfair treatment by the Mupaka Town Council administration and its agencies. Both parties appeared in court for submissions on Thursday.

Hon. Kamara is represented by Counsel Ayesiga Rebecca of Beitwenda & Company Advocates, while Mupaka Town Council is represented by the Mbarara Attorney General, Twinomugisha Brian.

In her submissions, Hon. Kamara’s lawyer, Ayesiga Rebecca, noted that Hon. Kamara had established a private market on his 1.8-acre land in Mupaka Town Council through the proper channels.

She added that Hon. Kamara is protesting the unfair treatment by the town council authorities, particularly the market operating license fee of 45 million shillings. Ayesiga argued that the Mupaka town clerk had no legal basis for assessing the 45 million shilling charge.

She revealed that during the period when Hon. Kamara had offered the market to the town council authorities, the town council used to remit only 5 million shillings to Kamara per year.

She questioned why the same town council now wants Kamara to pay nine times the amount he was previously receiving. Other grounds for the suit, as mentioned by Counsel Rebecca, include over-taxation on market commodities, selective allocation of commodities in Kamara Market, and the town clerk’s involvement in a private market’s affairs.

In response, the Solicitor General, Twinomugisha Brian, cited Article 189 of the Constitution, which allows local governments to levy and collect taxes in accordance with the law. He asked the court to dismiss the case without costs, arguing that the complainant has no evidence to justify the extent of damages claimed.

Hon. Kamara is seeking 500 million shillings in general damages if he wins the suit.

After hearing from both parties, Chief Magistrate Komakech adjourned the ruling to Wednesday, July 10th.