Justice Wengi rejects Museveni offer
SUSPENDED High Court judge Richard Okumu Wengi has declined President Yoweri Museveni’s offer for an early retirement with full benefits.
By Hillary Kiirya
SUSPENDED High Court judge Richard Okumu Wengi has declined President Yoweri Museveni’s offer for an early retirement with full benefits.
According to Wengi: “The offer is unconstitutional and would greatly undermine the constitutional protection of the Judiciary.â€
Wengi’s stand follows the President’s decision to cancel the investigation and the appointment of the tribunal that was formed to probe allegations of misconduct and corruption against him.
The judge claims the offer would undermine his integrity and compromise a suit he filed in court.
“While I appreciate your review of this matter and consequent cancellation of the instrument appointing the tribunal, which instrument I have always protested was based on illegalities committed by the Judicial Service Commission, I respectfully decline to take your counter offer of early retirement.
“What is now even more critical is that the matter is subjudice and there is a subsisting order to stay any action on my matter. I cannot accept to compromise my suit and my integrity by accepting that I am guilty of any wrongdoing, which taking your offer of early retirement would mean,†Wengi said in a letter to the President.
A tribunal to investigate Wengi was set up after the Judicial Service Commission allowed a petition by Vimish Gandesha alleging that the judge solicited a bribe from his late father Himatlal Gandesha’s law firm.
Wengi applied to the High Court to review the commission’ s recommendation of appointing a tribunal to investigate him, saying the commission did not follow the rules of fairness and natural justice.
The ruling will be delivered on January 31.
SUSPENDED High Court judge Richard Okumu Wengi has declined President Yoweri Museveni’s offer for an early retirement with full benefits.
According to Wengi: “The offer is unconstitutional and would greatly undermine the constitutional protection of the Judiciary.â€
Wengi’s stand follows the President’s decision to cancel the investigation and the appointment of the tribunal that was formed to probe allegations of misconduct and corruption against him.
The judge claims the offer would undermine his integrity and compromise a suit he filed in court.
“While I appreciate your review of this matter and consequent cancellation of the instrument appointing the tribunal, which instrument I have always protested was based on illegalities committed by the Judicial Service Commission, I respectfully decline to take your counter offer of early retirement.
“What is now even more critical is that the matter is subjudice and there is a subsisting order to stay any action on my matter. I cannot accept to compromise my suit and my integrity by accepting that I am guilty of any wrongdoing, which taking your offer of early retirement would mean,†Wengi said in a letter to the President.
A tribunal to investigate Wengi was set up after the Judicial Service Commission allowed a petition by Vimish Gandesha alleging that the judge solicited a bribe from his late father Himatlal Gandesha’s law firm.
Wengi applied to the High Court to review the commission’ s recommendation of appointing a tribunal to investigate him, saying the commission did not follow the rules of fairness and natural justice.
The ruling will be delivered on January 31.