Top judges moved in Judiciary reshuffle
Wilson Masalu Musene
What you need to know:
- Justice Andrew Bashaija, who has been the deputy to Justice Kwesiga in the Land Division, has now been elevated to head the division assisted by Justice Godfrey Namundi.
- The head of the Lands Division, Justice Wilson Kwesiga, replaces Justice Musene as head of the Criminal Division
KAMPALA.
The Head of Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala, Justice Wilson Masalu Musene, has been transferred to the newly created Mpigi circuit as resident judge.
In the November 29 administrative circular, Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine said Justice Musene now takes over from Justice Elizabeth Kabanda, who proceeds to the Family Division and will partly operate at the Criminal Division.
According to the circular, the head of the Lands Division, Justice Wilson Kwesiga, replaces Justice Musene as head of the Criminal Division.
Justice Andrew Bashaija, who has been the deputy to Justice Kwesiga in the Land Division, has now been elevated to head the division assisted by Justice Godfrey Namundi.
“Further to my administrative circular No. 1 of 2016 and in consultation with the Hon Chief Justice, adjustments are hereby made in staff deployments for more effective delivery of service,” Justice Bamwine said.
The principal judge said the re-deployments to take immediate effect, are subject to the usual completion of all partly heard cases in advanced stages at the respective old stations.
“The Secretary to the Judiciary and the Registrar High Court are by copy hereof requested to note the re-deployments and facilitate easy and smooth movements of the affected staff,” reads the principal judge’s circular reads in part.
The High Court operates in Kampala with the Criminal, Civil, Land, Commercial, Family, Anti-Corruption, International Crimes, and the Executions and Bailiffs.
Mpigi is one of the recent High Court Circuit creations, together with Mubende, Mukono, Iganga, Tororo, Rukungiri, Hoima, and Luweero, in addition to the existing Circuits of Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Arua, Masindi, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Kabale and Masaka.
The transfer of judges is the second largest to that of May 11, when 10 judges were transferred after the creation of the eight new High Court Circuits.
Despite the transfer of the judges, reports indicate the existence of Judge vacancies in the new Circuits of Iganga, Tororo, Rukungiri, Hoima, Mpigi and Luweero, the Criminal Division, Family Division and the High Court Circuit in Gulu. Altogether, nine more judges are needed this year.
