Odoki ready to resume duty

By Anne Mugisa  and Edward Anyoli

Justice Benjamin Odoki, who has been named Chief Justice for the second time, is ready to serve the country on the renewed terms. He said he is already in office as an acting Justice of the Supreme Court.

He, however, maintained that he had not yet seen the appointment letter as Chief Justice.

“I heard on TV that the letter was sent to Parliament. Let Parliament call me and if they do, I will do the needful,” Odoki said when contacted.

Odoki’ s reappointment after his retirement early this year has elicited mixed reactions from several lawyers, some of who are opposed to it.

But Odoki scoffed at the critics of his appointment saying: “Some people only think about themselves and nothing about the country.. Mine is service to the country..”

In a related development, Justice Mike Chibita, who has been appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said he also has no problem with Odoki’s appointment.

Chibita, who has already appeared for vetting before Parliament’s appointments committee, said he will report to his new office as soon as an appointment letter is sent to him. He said in the meantime, he has to wait for the committee to communicate their decision to President Yoweri Museveni regarding the matter.

He becomes the first judge to be appointed DPP under the 1955 Constitution and the second in Uganda after Odoki, who became DPP in the 1980s after serving as a High Court judge.

Peter Kabatsi, who held the positions of Solicitor General and DPP before going into private practice, said he had no problem with Chibita becoming DPP.

However, he said he is not sure about the issue of Odoki being reappointed Chief Justice.

“For the Chief Justice, I don’t know yet because it is highly contested. I will go by what the Uganda law Society says,” Kabatsi said.

Muzamiru Kibedi, a lawyer, also said that Odoki’s reappointment is very controversial because the Constitution does not seem to provide for it. He, however, said, Odoki can serve as a judge of the Supreme Court.

For Chibita, he also says the situation is tricky since he has already been a judge.

“The Judiciary has to be independent. Therefore, he has to make critical decisions whether to give it up or ask for leave without pay from his position as judge,” Kibedi said.

Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi said Odoki’s appointment is illegal because the Constitution stipulates the age of who should be Chief Justice, while he agreed with Chibita’s appointment.

Peter Walubiri, a lawyer, said he did not have any problem with Chibita’s, adding: “But we have been crying for more judges. Why does the President pick a High Court judge when there are other capable lawyers.”