Odoki blasts politicians
Sep 25, 2005
The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, has hit back at some opposition politicians, saying they see justice only when they win cases and insult the Judiciary when they lose.
By Anne Mugisa
The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, has hit back at some opposition politicians, saying they see justice only when they win cases and insult the Judiciary when they lose.
Two politicians from the UPC and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the constitutional and supreme courts, accusing the judges of fraudulently perpetuating the National Resistance Movement government in power.
This was during the Makerere University Annual Law Conference and Symposium held at the Faculty of Law.
Abdu Katuntu of FDC and Peter Walubiri of UPC attacked the two courts, citing the losses of the different petitions brought before them, including the presidential elections petition of 2001, which contender Kiiza Besigye lost.
“I assure the public that the courts will remain independent and impartial arbiters in dispensing justice and resolving any disputes that arise during the political transition,†the Chief Justice said as he closed the conference on Friday.
“The courts will continue to exercise judicial power vested in them by the Constitution, in accordance with the law, norms, values and aspirations of the people of Uganda. While in a free and democratic society, decisions of the courts are open to public scrutiny and discussion, parties, lawyers and the general public should carefully study and understand those decisions before they criticise them.
“Those dissatisfied with the decisions should appeal to higher courts, where possible. Otherwise, decisions of the courts must be respected and obeyed if the rule of law is to prevail. It is a pity that more often than not, parties see justice only when they win cases, but when they lose, the courts are branded biased, corrupt or inefficient,†he said.
Odoki said the courts conduct their business openly, so Ugandans should take initiative to learn and understand the judicial process.
He said the Judiciary has a central role in promoting democracy and a peaceful political transition, because it is the guardian of the constitution and custodian of basic human rights.
Odoki said much as there is freedom of speech and expression of ideas, it should be done carefully and in a tolerant manner. He said Uganda’s political transition is important to democracy and every citizen should participate on a level ground.
Ends
The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, has hit back at some opposition politicians, saying they see justice only when they win cases and insult the Judiciary when they lose.
Two politicians from the UPC and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the constitutional and supreme courts, accusing the judges of fraudulently perpetuating the National Resistance Movement government in power.
This was during the Makerere University Annual Law Conference and Symposium held at the Faculty of Law.
Abdu Katuntu of FDC and Peter Walubiri of UPC attacked the two courts, citing the losses of the different petitions brought before them, including the presidential elections petition of 2001, which contender Kiiza Besigye lost.
“I assure the public that the courts will remain independent and impartial arbiters in dispensing justice and resolving any disputes that arise during the political transition,†the Chief Justice said as he closed the conference on Friday.
“The courts will continue to exercise judicial power vested in them by the Constitution, in accordance with the law, norms, values and aspirations of the people of Uganda. While in a free and democratic society, decisions of the courts are open to public scrutiny and discussion, parties, lawyers and the general public should carefully study and understand those decisions before they criticise them.
“Those dissatisfied with the decisions should appeal to higher courts, where possible. Otherwise, decisions of the courts must be respected and obeyed if the rule of law is to prevail. It is a pity that more often than not, parties see justice only when they win cases, but when they lose, the courts are branded biased, corrupt or inefficient,†he said.
Odoki said the courts conduct their business openly, so Ugandans should take initiative to learn and understand the judicial process.
He said the Judiciary has a central role in promoting democracy and a peaceful political transition, because it is the guardian of the constitution and custodian of basic human rights.
Odoki said much as there is freedom of speech and expression of ideas, it should be done carefully and in a tolerant manner. He said Uganda’s political transition is important to democracy and every citizen should participate on a level ground.
Ends