JSC yet to recommend next Principle Judge

JUSTICE SYSTEM

KAMPALA - The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has said that the recruitment process for the next Principle Judge is underway.

In a telephone interview with New Vision on Wednesday, Maria Theresa Nabulya dismissed as untrue reports circulating on social media, that High Court judge Duncan Gaswaga has been appointed the next Principle Judge to replace Yorokamu Bamwine.

Bamwine is set to clock the retirement age of 65 years in December this year.

He was appointed the acting Principle Judge in 2010 to replace retired justice James Ogoola.

Bamwine was later confirmed as the substantive Principle Judge, a position he is holding to date.

"The recruitment process is underway. What I can confirm is that no one has been appointed by the commission so far. Those are false reports you should ignore. However, for more details call the chairperson," Nabulya said.

Efforts to get a comment from Justice Benjamin Kabiito, the chairperson of the JSC proved futile as the various calls made to him went unanswered.

Procedurally, after the nomination of the best candidate for the job, the name will be forwarded to President Yoweri Museveni for approval.

Although Nabulya declined to reveal the number of judges that have applied for the job, New Vision has learnt that they are six judges eyeing for the position.

They include the Director of Public Prosecution Mike Chibita, Gaswaga the head of the Execution Division of the High Court and former chief registrar of courts of judicature Paul Gadenya.

Others are Henry Peter Adonyo, David Wangutusi the head of the commercial court and Monica Mugenyi, the Principle Judge of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

Qualification for the position

According to the JSC internal advert, for one to qualify for the position, they must possess a Bachelor of Laws degree and a post-graduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre.

The applicant should have served as a High Court judge or a court of similar jurisdiction or practiced as an advocate for not less than 15 years.

The applicants were also required to attach at least four samples of judgments in either criminal or civil cases they have handled.

Principle Judge's role

The Principle Judge is ranked third in the Judiciary hierarchy after the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.

The Principle Judge is the administrative head of the High Court and assists the Chief Justice in the day-to-day running of the High Court and the subordinate courts in accordance with Article 133 of the Constitution and adjudicating matters within unlimited jurisdiction of the High Court.