During the 51st commemoration of the first Chief Justice of Uganda, Benedict Kiwanuka, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo criticized state agents for their disregard of court decisions issued by judges, which he deemed as a flagrant violation of the rule of law in the country.
The event, attended by dignitaries and legal professionals, marked the tragic legacy of Benedict Kiwanuka, who was forcibly removed from his chambers at the High Court in Kampala by state operatives and subsequently murdered, with his remains never having been recovered.
Addressing the assembled guests, Chief Justice Owiny Dolo expressed deep concern over recent incidents where state agents appeared to reinterpret and, in some cases, refused to implement court decisions issued by judicial officers. He asserted that such actions were basically at odds with the principles of the rule of law that underpin Uganda’s legal system.
“I have seen state agencies committing the sacrilege of purporting to interpret decisions of judicial officers and refusing to implement those decisions. This is contrary to the principle of the rule of law. Either we accept the course of law or we close the courts of law and handle the dysfunctions to other persons,” Chief Justice Owiny Dolo declared.
Retired Justice Jotham Tumwesigye, who served as the keynote speaker at the event, also expressed strong views on the issue. He called for a strengthening of disciplinary proceedings within the judiciary.
“Disciplinary proceedings in the Judiciary need to be strengthened because simply sending a dragger to leave to complete his judgment is not enough. I think we should have a mechanism whereby judges and judicial officers who cannot write their judgments are given stricter punishments,” retired Justice Tumwesigye stated
