President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Dr Flavian Zeija as the new Deputy Chief Justice. He replaces Richard Buteera who has reached retirement age.
In a statement issued by the Judicial Service Commission, a statutory body in charge of recruitment and regulating the conduct of Judicial Officers, the President also promoted Justice Muzamiru Kibeedi to the Supreme Court and also promoted the Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu to a position of Acting Judge of the High Court.
The statement indicates that the President has appointed 8 Justices of the Court of Appeal on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
“In addition, the President has also appointed 21 Judges of the High Court in acting capacity into the Judiciary Service for 2 years from the date of assumption of duty”, adds the statement.
Following the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against Lady Justice Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa, she has been re-appointed as acting Judge of the High Court for one year.
The Public Relations Officer for the Judicial Service Commission Maria Theresa Nabirye says the appointments were part of the last activities conducted by the 6th Commission, led by Justice Benjamin Kabiito whose term of office expired on the 21st of January 2025.
Among the other notable promotions made is the elevation of Justice Musa Ssekaana who has been the head of the High Court Civil Division to the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court.
Ssekaana’s career has been marred by controversies especially with the Uganda Law Society members accusing him of gross misconduct and asking him to step down in hearing some cases in vain.
This is the third time that Museveni has appointed judicial officers in Acting Capacities.
He did it for the 1st time in 2022 and his decision was challenged successfully by Makerere University Law Don Dr. Kabumba Busigye and lawyer Andrew Karamagi.
The Constitutional Court ruled that appointing judges in an acting capacity contravenes the 1995 Constitution and therefore is null and void.
By Our Reporter
6 February 2025
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