Court dismisses Appeal from Burundi challenging the trial Court’s decision in a dispute over the election of the Speaker of EALA
East African Court of Justice, 8th June, 2020: The Appellate Division dismissed an Appeal filed by the Attorney General of the Republic of Burundi (Appellant) against the Judgment of the First Instance Division (“the Trial Court”) over the dismissal of a dispute on the election of the Speaker of the 4th East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), claiming that the Speaker was elected in breach of Articles 53(1) or 57(1) of the Treaty, or Rule 12(1)of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.
The Appellate Court in its decision concluded that, It is clear that the Appellant’s challenge to the election of the Speaker of the 4th Assembly of EALA has failed in both the Trial Court and in this Court as the 3 issues for determination have all been answered in the negative and awarded Costs of the Appeal to the Respondent and the Intervener. The Cross-Appeal by the Respondents succeeded, with the result that the Respondent (Secretary General of East African Community) and the Intervener (Hon. Fred Mukasa Mbidde, a Member of EALA), will be awarded their Costs in the Trial Court.