Legal Challenge Rejected: Court of Appeal Allows Government to Proceed with Vehicle Monitoring System
The Legal Brains Trust filed a complaint in the High Court to stop the government from using car monitoring devices provided by a Russian corporation. They argued that it violated the right to privacy. However, the High Court rejected their application. The Legal Brains Trust then appealed to the Court of Appeal, but their request was also rejected. The Court of Appeal sided with the government’s claims that the tracking devices were meant to combat criminal activity and would not be used to invade the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
The Legal Brains Trust requested a temporary injunction to stop the government from using car monitoring devices, but the Court of Appeal in Kampala rejected their request.
In order to curb crime involving motorbikes and cars, the government has negotiated an arrangement with a Russian corporation to provide computerized trackers for all the nation’s vehicles.
Legal Brains Trust filed a complaint in the High Court to overturn this ruling and for an interim injunction.
The High Court, however, rejected the application. Legal Brains Trust filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal after being dissatisfied with the decision.
The State Attorney argued that the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) is not being implemented in breach of the right to privacy on behalf of the government, which objected to the order being granted. They declared that the technology would not be used to track law-abiding residents but rather to track cars and motorcycles used in criminal activity.
In his decision, Court of Appeal Justice Oscar Kihiika sided with the government’s claims and rejected the application. He claimed that the petitioner had not shown how the ITMS would harm them, and that any hardship could be made up for with monetary compensation.
Justice Kihiika added that the respondent would be wronged if the temporary injunction was granted because it would effectively decide the appeal that is still underway.
Since new number plates with digital tracking capabilities are now mandatory for car owners, the government can go forward with the adoption of vehicle tracking devices.
Individuals who purchased the new license plates may be reimbursed for their costs. The Court of Appeal’s ruling keeps things as they are and permits the appeals process to proceed.
