Wambuzi Sticks To Chief Justice’s House

By John EremuFORMER chief justice Wako Wambuzi has stuck to the official residence of the Chief Justice and is negotiating for other privileges outside the normal retirement benefits for public servants.Wambuzi, who handed over office to his successor, Benjamin Odoki almost one-and-a-half years ago, received a retirement package of sh160m, but wants the Government to continue picking his medical bills. He also wants the Government to buy him a house and continue providing him with transport and security.“According to the Uganda Constitution, such privileges are only accorded to former Presidents and Vice Presidents and nobody else. Not even the Speaker who heads the legislative arm of Government,” a source in the judiciary said.When contacted, Wambuzi declined to comment. “You can ring up the High Court and talk to the Secretary (to the Judiciary),” Wambuzi said by telephone and hung up.The Secretary to the Judiciary, Ms. Ocaya Lakidi, confirmed that Wambuzi still occupied the Chief Justice’s residence and could not be thrown out because he had appealed to the Government for some privileges.“Our hands are tied because nobody (in the Government) has authoritatively come out to say no or yes to his requests,” Lakidi told The New Vision. She, however, declined to say to whom the appeal was lodged.But sources said the Government promised Wambuzi extra privileges if he resigned in 1999 at the height of his conflict with the Principal Judge, Justice Herbert Ntabgoba, over a Pajero vehicle. Wambuzi, who served the judiciary for nearly 40 years publicly traded accusations with Ntabgoba.“The dispute was an embarrassment to the judiciary and it was felt that the Chief Justice should take early retirement since his retirement was almost due,” one of the sources said.“Government would in turn buy him a house, continue picking his medical bills, and provide transport and security. But the CJ declined and served till he clocked his retirement age. We do not now know whether the offers still stand since they were pegged to his early retirement,” the source added.Ends