Aisha Naluzze Batala, the prosecutor of Ronald Ssebulime's killer, is among the 11 acting High Court judge appointees that Members of Parliament are expected to vet on Friday.

Batala, who was in October 2021 commended for her role (assistant Director of Public Prosecutions at the time) in the prosecution of Corporal David Ssali and conviction of killing Ronald Sebulime, is going to be vetted by Parliament's appointments committee.

Ssebulime was killed by Ssali on suspicion of trailing former information state minister Aidah Nantaba with the aim of assassinating her in 2019. Ssali is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence over the crime.

Parliament's appointments committee is scheduled to vet the 11 acting judges of the High Court on Friday, July 21, 2023.

A copy of a letter, which New Vision Online has seen, signed on July 17, 2023, by the clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija and addressed to the committee, indicates that the members are expected to interact with 12 presidential appointees.

The acting judges of the High Court appointees are 11 and Financial Intelligence Authority executive director Samuel Were Wandera.

The acting judge appointees are:

1. Flavia Nabakooza (has been a deputy registrar in the Judiciary's Registry of Research, Planning and Development department)
2. Philip Willebroad Mwaka
3. Farouk Lubega
4. David Makumbi Samson Lwokya
5. Christine Akello Echookit
6. Jamson Karemera Karemani (has been Judiciary's civil division spokesperson)
7. Patience Emily Rubagumya Tumusiime (has been Uganda Revenue Authority's commissioner legal services and board affairs)
8. Aisha Naluzze Batala
9. Kania Rosette Comfort
10. Jacqueline Mwondha
11. Amos Kwizera

Constitutional Court's stand on appointments in acting capacity

However, the Constitutional Court in 2022 ruled that appointing judges in an acting capacity contravenes the 1995 Constitution and, therefore, is null and void.

The ruling followed a petition lodged by Dr. Busingye Kabumba and Andrew Karamagi, both Makerere University lecturers, challenging the constitutionality of the appointment of 16 High Court Judges in acting capacity for a two-year term.

The judges were appointed by President Yoweri Museveni on May 16, 2022, on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).