We are like sheep without a shepherd, judges say Judges at the on-going retreat have said the absence of a substantive Chief Justice makes them look like sheep that are wandering without a shepherd. The justices also said they are “hurting” over lack of the top Judiciary leadership. Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine, who made the demand to the government on behalf of the more than 70 judges attending the conference, asked the judges to indulge in prayer until a new Chief Justice is named. In the Judiciary, we are hurting without the shepherd and the sheep is scattered all over…” Dr Bamwine said, attracting applause from the judges. “Let’s pray for the Judiciary to have a shepherd,” he added. The same stance was re-echoed by president of the Uganda Law Society Ruth Sebatindira while she presented a paper titled; ‘The Bar and Bench-partners in Justice’ at the conference. Ms Sebatindira referred to the continued lack of Chief Justice and Deputy as a “big elephant in the conference room”. She said as partners with the Judiciary in the dispensation of justice, “it’s not good to see them without top leadership for this long”. All these calls were made in the presence of former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, whom President Museveni while addressing the conference on Monday this week, referred to as “my nominee” for the Chief Justice slot. Mention of this searing issue in the Judiciary was avoided by the different speakers, including Attorney General Peter Nyombi, when President Museveni --- the appointing authority, opened the conference. The country has for more than seven months been without a substantive Chief Justice following the retirement of Justice Odoki on March 23 last year. He also served out his three months extension. Similarly, the country has not had a substantive Deputy Chief Justice since March last year, following the death of the then Acting Deputy Chief Justice Constance Byamugisha. She had stepped in the shoes of Justice Laetitia Mukasa Kikonyogo who clocked 70-years in August 2010. Justice Steven Kavuma has since taken over both roles as Acting Chief Justice and Acting Deputy Chief Justice. Meanwhile, the judges have proposed that persons that disobey court orders should be blacklisted and appropriate action taken against them. “If court orders are not enforced, then the people will soon lose confidence in the courts,” said Gulu Resident Judge John Eudes Keitirima
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:09:19 +0000
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