The Constitutional Court has quashed criminal charges that were instituted against NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, in relation to OTT tax.
In 2019 Kyagulanyi jointly with David Lule also known as Selector Davie, Julius Katongole, Edward Ssebufu commonly known as Eddie Mutwe and Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu were charged before Buganda Road Court, with disobedience of lawful orders when they demonstrated against the introduction of OTT tax on Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter on 11th July 2018 at City Square.
Prosecutions had alleged that the suspects offended sections of the public order management act by holding a public meeting without giving notice to police, and refusing to cooperate with police to ensure that all participants are peaceful and not armed.
However, the panel of five justices led by Egonda Ntende unanimously agreed that the section 5 and 10 of the Public Order Management Act 2013 under which they are charged, contravenes article 29(1)(d) of the Constitution.
In their led judgment written by Justice Elizabeth Musoke, the justices declared that the charges against Kyagulanyi and his co accused persons constituted an impermissible limitation on their right to freedom of assembly and contravenes the Constitution.
They directed the Court registrar to notify Buganda Road Court of their decision to permanently discontinue charges against the Nup president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his co accused persons.
Meanwhile government has since scrapped off OTT tax which was levied on the use of social media platforms.
URA revealed that OTT was not perfoming well as majority of would be payers resorted to use of VPN and wifi.
Report: By Betty Zziwa
