Eight vie for deputy chief justice's seat

Clockwise: Irene Mulyagonja, Owiny Dollo, Lillian Tibatemwa, Egonda Ntende, Stella Arach and Esther Kisaakye. Monitor photo

What you need to know:

  • Justice George William Kanyeihamba, formerly a justice of the Supreme Court, said the credibility of the Court of Appeal has ebbed during Justice Kavuma’s time.
  • The deputy CJ, according to Article 135 of the Constitution, presides over the sittings of the Constitutional Court.

Eight nominees, one of whom will be selected to be the next Deputy Chief Justice have been identified. The eight include Irene Mulyagonja, Esther Kisaakye, Hellen Obura, Solome Bossa, Stella Arach, Lillian Tibatemwa, Owiny Dollo and Egonda Ntende.
Many of the prospects were recommended by fellow professionals. Many, too, have served in different positions in the judiciary before, thus are experienced in judicial matters.
According to sources, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has interviewed many of the nominees.

The few pending cases will have been concluded by Tuesday.
When the Daily Monitor contacted the chairperson of the JSC chairperson, Benjamin Kabiito, to verify the information, he pleaded for patience.
“Call me on Wednesday next week when I will be free,” Justice Kabiito said on Thursday 22.
The JSC, according to one account, is by Tuesday expected to have zeroed in on whom of the nominees to recommend to President Museveni to appoint to the position.

The current deputy CJ, Justice Steven Kavuma, is due to retire in September when he turns 70, the retirement age.
Justice Kavuma’s time in the judiciary has not been without fault.
Recently, he had issued an interim order barring Parliament from inquiring into the sharing out of Shs6b among 42 government officials.
The officials had justified their pickings by arguing that they had saved Uganda $434m (about Shs1.5 trillion) she would have lost to Heritage Oil and Gas and Tullow Oil, had the two oil companies won the case between them and Uganda.
It was against the backdrop of the interim order that the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said the court is interfering in the oversight powers of the House.
“This is unacceptable. I want to direct the Attorney General to go to court and ensure that this stupid order is vacated,” Ms Kadaga said then.

The petitioners later withdrew their petition.
Justice George William Kanyeihamba, formerly a justice of the Supreme Court, said the credibility of the Court of Appeal has ebbed during Justice Kavuma’s time.
The next deputy CJ, therefore, has to address this challenge.
The deputy CJ, according to Article 135 of the Constitution, presides over the sittings of the Constitutional Court.
In the deputy CJ’s absence, the most senior member of the court presides over the sittings.
When sitting as a court, the Court of Appeal shall consist of a bench of five members of that court.