Prime
Museveni appoints Ogoola to head new judicial commission
Retired Principal Judge Justice James Ogoola has been appointed by President Museveni to head the Judicial Service Commission
President Yoweri Museveni has appointed retired Principal Judge Justice James Ogoola to head the Judicial Service Commission, replacing long serving jurist Justice Seth Manyindo.
Justice Ogoola and others appointed to the same commission are to be vetted by the Parliament Appointments Committee soon, to fill the void that has existed for almost a year.
Among other appointments are Justice Esther Kisakye Mayambala (deputy reappointed), Justice Bart Katureebe (reappointed) Prof Fredrick Ssempeebwa (reappointed) Mr Charles Okoth Owol, Mr Laban Kirya, Mr Henry Kyemba, and Ms Grace Oburu.
Mr Owol represents the Uganda Law Society while Mr Kirya represents the Public Service Commission. Mr Kyemba and Ms Oburu represent the public.
“Yes some names were sent to Parliament,” the minister in charge of the presidency Ms Kabakumba Masiko said, referring this reporter to her colleague, Mary Karooro Okurut who is the government spokesperson.
Similarly presidential spokesman Mr Tamale Mirundi confirmed the appointments but said was not privy to the names on the list.
Welcoming news of the appointments, JSC secretary Mr Kagole Kivumbi said it would be a “good starting point” considering the period spent without a commission.
“The vacuum had had great impact on the judiciary in that no appointments could be made to the judiciary. There are five vacant supreme Court posts, eight in Court of Appeal and 38 Grade I magistrates,” he explained.
“There were also issues with matters of discipline in that complaints could not be handled,” he added. Annually, about 120 complaints are investigated and disposed off but, he said, a backlog of 300 complaints had accumulated. This, he said, would require two years to dispose off as new complaints come up.
The vacuum also meant no major policy decisions could be made.
