Mwondha deployed to Nakawa Court

Jul 22, 2009

THE former Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Faith Mwondha, has been redeployed to the High Court.

By Hilary Nsambu and Anne Mugisa

THE former Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Faith Mwondha, has been redeployed to the High Court.

Mwondha, who refused to be vetted by Parliament for the renewal of her term of office, will now go to the Nakawa High Court.

In a circular on Monday, the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, redeployed seven other judges including embattled Commercial Court judge, Anup Singh Choudry.

Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Mwondha must go back to the Parliament for vetting before her term can be renewed. The petition had been taken to the Constitutional Court by 22 citizens who supported Mwondha’s stand.

The petitioners argued that her appearing before MPs, some of whom she was investigating, would undermine the independence of the IGG. They contended that the MPs who were insisting on her re-vetting were trying to amend the Constitution illegally.

But the five judges ruled that parliamentary approval was a constitutional requirement.

They also stopped the payment of Mwondha’s emoluments and benefits as IGG unless her term is renewed.

Before being appointed IGG in February 2005, Mwondha held other offices in the Judiciary. She worked as chief magistrate before she joined the Constituent Assembly which enacted the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.

After that, she was appointed to the Human Rights Commission before being appointed judge of the High Court. By the time she was appointed IGG, she had been a judge based in Mbale.

Mwondha replaced fellow lawyer Jotham Tumwesigye who had completed his second four-year term as IGG.

Tumwesigye, who was the second IGG, replaced Augustine Ruzindana who is now with the opposition FDC.

The other judges redeployed by the Principal Judge were Caroline Okello, who moves to the Family Court, and Oumo Oguli who will head the Family Court.

Justice Eldad Mwangusya will assist at the Family Court though he is substantively deputy head of the newly created War Crimes Court. The war crimes court is still waiting for a law enabling it to operate.

Justice Vincent Zehurikize moves from Jinja to Kampala in the civil division of the High Court, while Joseph Murangira, who has been at Nakawa court, now heads the lands division.

Justice Choudry, who had been in the Commercial Court, now goes to the war crimes division. Justice Elizabeth Nahamya will assist at the commercial division while continuing substantively as war crimes judge.

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