This week, the Judicial Service Commission has called for applications to fill the positions of deputy Chief Justice and Chief Registrar, both key appointments in the judiciary, even as this important arm of government continues to come under scrutiny.
After the former deputy Chief Justice Flavian Zeija’s promotion to the top office in the Judiciary, a vacancy was created that is expected to be filled by the president once the Judicial Service Commission is done vetting candidates and sending shortlisted candidates to the appointing authority.
Lately, the judiciary has come under fire from the public over increased allegations of partiality, while, year after year, the president has cautioned the judiciary against corruption. In 2021, shortly after Zeija’s predecessor Alphonse Owiny Dollo’s August 2020 appointment, the president, while opening a new law year, said: “…the people’s confidence in the courts of law is crucial.”
And in a speech delivered for him by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at the Judiciary headquarters in 2023, President Museveni said, “I must caution you, however, that in order to realize your Transformation Agenda, you must put in place strong measures for accountability and fighting corruption. You must also strive to maintain utmost vigilance on issues of integrity in the judiciary.”
These sentiments still hold true for the millions of Ugandans counting on Zeija and his team for justice, and we can only hope the same sentiments still hold true for the president as he makes the next crucial appointments to the sector.
Where ‘NRM cadre’ had become the overriding qualification in many government appointments, may meritocracy and absolute commitment to the people of Uganda reign supreme, as the commission sieves candidates in the coming weeks.
This is the judiciary’s chance to clean house and restore its image, by strengthening structures at the top and enforcing a zero tolerance of corruption and all the other vices eating away at Uganda’s judicial service.
Former convicts narrate harrowing conditions in our prison system, due to case backlog that is occasioned not only by a shortage of presiding justices, but also by corruption and poor work ethics.
When the judiciary is not clean and independent, the ripple-down effect is felt in every aspect of society as this is the one arm of government every Ugandan should be confident of running to, for redress and justice. We wish Zeija a great run in office, and may the best candidates – no one but the very best – catch the judicial service’s and the president’s eye, to fill the vacant positions.
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