Kampala, (UG):- Ugandan prominent lawyer, Joshua Okello has filed a formal complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding a delay in the hearing of a public interest case he submitted on behalf of Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Annet Among.
In a letter dated September 23, 2024, addressed to ECHR Registrar, Okello, the founder of the Global Litigation Initiative expressed frustration over the lack of response from the court since the time he submitted his appeal against the sanctions imposed on Uganda’s House Speaker.
Okello argues that despite completing all required formalities, including downloading and submitting the official ECHR application, the court has failed to communicate any updates or schedule a hearing.
The case, which Okello describes as being in the public interest, centres around the protection of Speaker Among’s rights. He urges the court to schedule the hearing, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied,” and calls on the ECHR to maintain its integrity as a bastion of human rights.
According to Okello, the delay in the hearing of his case amounts to misconduct on the part of the court, warning that such inaction could potentially sow divisions along racial lines.
“If legal redress or equitable relief to an injured party is available but not forthcoming in a timely fashion, it is effectively the same as having no remedy at all,” Okello noted, adding that the importance of the European Court of Human Rights is upholding its commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
In his petition, Okello urged the ECHR to set a date for the hearing of his case, emphasizing that the delay is not only a failure in the administration of justice but also poses a threat to social harmony.
“Therefore, the purpose of my communication here is to request you to fix the hearing date of the said application form I submitted to you because justice delayed is justice denied and neglected justice is poisonous to society. So let true justice prevail,” Okello’s letter, copied to Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Anita Among, and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni concludes.
The European Court of Human Rights was yet to respond to the petition or address the allegations raised by the Ugandan lawyer at the time this story was filed.
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