Nkangi raps judges on new deputy CJ

By John Kakande JUDGES have no right to advise the President on the appointment of the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and other judicial officers, justice and constitutional affairs minister Mayanja Nkangi has said. Mayanja Nkangi, answering a question at a press conference yesterday, said it would be a "terrible precedent" if President Museveni were to accept to review the appointment of Lady Justice Laeticia Mukasa-Kikonyogo as Deputy Chief Justice on the advice of judges. The minister called the press conference to react to a statement made by UPC stalwart Dr James Rwanyarare that the Buganda Lukiiko was to blame for the 1966 crisis. During the press conference he was asked to comment on the petition sent to the President by some judges objecting to the appointment of Kikonyogo. Mayanja said it was a pity if the authors of the anonymous documents were judges. He said judges know well that in law "unsigned documents are no documents." "Did they expect the President to act on the strength of an unsigned document?" he asked. He said under the Constitution, judges are not part of the bodies which are supposed to advise the President on the appointment of their colleagues. "You do not arrogate to yourself the authority you do not have under the Constitution," he added. He said he would not "advocate for an electoral college of judges for appointment of judges." "We should not have politics of this nature in the Judiciary," he said. I have no love to see politics in the judiciary," he said. Ends.