Kabale High Court to Deliver Verdict on Market Lock-Up Allocation Dispute on August 28

Summary:

• In 2022, lock-up owners, led by Canon Jack Katarishangwa, petitioned the court seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the defendants from allocating the lock-ups contrary to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed before the demolition of the old market structures.

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KABALE: The Kabale High Court has scheduled August 28th of this year to deliver its verdict on the petition filed by 290 lock-up owners in Kabale Central Market against the Kabale Municipal Council and the Attorney General.

The petition challenges the government’s guidelines on the allocation of space in the market.

In 2022, lock-up owners, led by Canon Jack Katarishangwa, petitioned the court seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the defendants from allocating the lock-ups contrary to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed before the demolition of the old market structures. Before the demolition, the council and the Ministry of Local Government signed an MoU with the vendors, promising that they would be prioritized during space allocation in the new market.

The MoU also stipulated that lock-up owners with unexpired occupation permits would retain their lock-ups until the permits expired. Additionally, the lock-up owners are demanding 50 million shillings as compensation for each lock-up if the council fails to allocate them their spaces as indicated in the occupation permits and the MoU.

On Tuesday, the vendors, represented by their lawyer Ezra Bikangiso of Bikangiso and Company Advocates, and the Municipal Council, represented by Phionah Asiimwe from the Attorney General’s office, appeared before the High Court for cross-examination following the submission of their evidence.

After the cross-examination, the court, presided over by High Court Judge His Worship Samuel Emokor, adjourned the matter to August 28th for the judgment. Speaking to our reporter shortly after the court session, the Chairperson of Kabale Central Market Lock-Up Owners Association, Rev. Canon Jack Katarishangwa, commended the manner in which the case is being handled by the court and expressed optimism that the ruling will favor the plaintiffs.

CUE IN….KATARISHANGWA ON COURT…RR/ENG//