Kampala — High Court in Kampala has quashed a decision by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to suspend two journalists from covering parliamentary proceedings, citing violation of the right to be heard.
On January 28, 2013, the Parliamentary Commission and the Clerk to Parliament, blocked Mr Sulaiman Kakaire and Mr David T. Lumu, then employees of the Observer, from accessing the precincts of Parliament for allegedly writing news stories that were "full of inaccuracies" and "damaging to the office of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.".
However, Justice Nyanzi ruled on Friday that the journalists ought to have been called before an independent body and informed of the allegations against them, given an opportunity to respond to the said allegations in the spirit of the rules of natural justice.
"In the result, I find that the applicants' right to a fair hearing was violated and the decision made and or passed in absence of a fair hearing ought to be quashed," Justice Nyanzi held.
The journalists had argued that they were not summoned by the disciplinary committee to be heard before a decision could be made.
Court also ruled that Parliament acted beyond its powers by prohibiting the journalists from accessing the House. Court documents indicate that guidelines of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association do not extend to cover what reporters write about Parliament or what happens in Parliament. Read more
No comments:
Post a Comment