Seven judges for the Supreme Court
Feb 27, 2008
THE President has assigned seven judges to the Supreme Court to handle six constitutional appeals. To hear constitutional appeals, seven justices of the Supreme Court must form a coram.
By Anne Mugisa
THE President has assigned seven judges to the Supreme Court to handle six constitutional appeals.
The judges on the temporary assignment are Alice Bahigeine, S.G. Engwau, C. N. B. Kitumba, G.M. Okello and C. K. Byamugisha, all from the appeal court, while the Principal Judge, James Ogoola and Egonda Ntende are from the High Court.
The Supreme Court is short by two judges following the death of Arthur Oder and the retirement of Alfred Karokora.
To hear constitutional appeals, seven justices of the Supreme Court must form a coram.
According to the Judicial Service Commission, the President has constitutional powers to assign judges from a lower court to the Supreme Court.
The cases before the Supreme Court include the election petition appeal filed last year by Joy Kabatsi against Sembabule Woman MP Hanifa Kawooya and the Electoral Commission.
Others include an appeal filed in 2006 by Brig. Henry Tumukunde against the Government and one filed by the State in 2005 against Commercial Court registrar Masalu Musene and others.
The other appeals include several filed by the Attorney General against the Uganda Law Society (2005), against one Tumushabe (2005) and Kigula and others (2006).
Justice Bahigeine will be on the panel handling the Kabatsi-Kawooya petition, while Engwau and Byamugisha will hear the Tumukunde-state appeal. Justices Okello and Ntende will join the coram hearing the appeal against Masalu Musene.
Those who will be on the Constitutional appeal against the Uganda Law Society are Kitumba and Ogoola. Kigula and others will be handled by Engwau and Kitumba.
The Judiciary has blamed the huge case backlog on shortage of judges. Recently, Museveni named new judges, who are yet to be vetted by Parliament.
THE President has assigned seven judges to the Supreme Court to handle six constitutional appeals.
The judges on the temporary assignment are Alice Bahigeine, S.G. Engwau, C. N. B. Kitumba, G.M. Okello and C. K. Byamugisha, all from the appeal court, while the Principal Judge, James Ogoola and Egonda Ntende are from the High Court.
The Supreme Court is short by two judges following the death of Arthur Oder and the retirement of Alfred Karokora.
To hear constitutional appeals, seven justices of the Supreme Court must form a coram.
According to the Judicial Service Commission, the President has constitutional powers to assign judges from a lower court to the Supreme Court.
The cases before the Supreme Court include the election petition appeal filed last year by Joy Kabatsi against Sembabule Woman MP Hanifa Kawooya and the Electoral Commission.
Others include an appeal filed in 2006 by Brig. Henry Tumukunde against the Government and one filed by the State in 2005 against Commercial Court registrar Masalu Musene and others.
The other appeals include several filed by the Attorney General against the Uganda Law Society (2005), against one Tumushabe (2005) and Kigula and others (2006).
Justice Bahigeine will be on the panel handling the Kabatsi-Kawooya petition, while Engwau and Byamugisha will hear the Tumukunde-state appeal. Justices Okello and Ntende will join the coram hearing the appeal against Masalu Musene.
Those who will be on the Constitutional appeal against the Uganda Law Society are Kitumba and Ogoola. Kigula and others will be handled by Engwau and Kitumba.
The Judiciary has blamed the huge case backlog on shortage of judges. Recently, Museveni named new judges, who are yet to be vetted by Parliament.