I don't have powers to sack Kavuma, says CJ Katureebe
MASAKA.
Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has said he has no powers to suspend or sack the Deputy Justice Steven Kavuma.
Justice Katureebe also refuted reports which have been circulating on various social media platforms that judges at the Court of Appeal had petitioned him to interdict Justice Kavuma.
“I have not received any petition from the Court of Appeal. What I have seen is an anonymous letter from somebody calling himself a whistle-blower who made certain allegations and was calling upon me to interdict the Deputy Chief Justice,” he said, adding that he as Chief Justice has no powers to suspend the deputy chief justice.
Justice Katureebe made the remarks during his tour of Masaka Chief Magisterial area on Wednesday. He said even if he had been formally petitioned, he would have redirected the petition to the Judicial Service Commission where it can be handled.
“…if one needs a judge to be suspended or removed, you must move to the Judicial Service Commission or the Cabinet. Then Cabinet will advise the President to appoint a tribunal to remove that judge. When the President appoints the tribunal, the Constitution demands that the President shall suspend that judge,” Justice Katureebe explained.
He said the President has the mandate to appoint a tribunal to investigate an implicated judge. If the tribunal finds the judge culpable upon completion of the investigations, Justice Katureebe said, then the President removes him.
Recently, some sections of the media reported that Court of Appeal judges through an anonymous whistle-blower had petitioned Chief Justice Katureebe over the Deputy Chief Justice for various allegations.
