KAMPALA- The Judiciary has confirmed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Dr Flavian Zeija as the Deputy Chief Justice to replace Justice Richard Buteera who is due for retirement in May.
Justice Zeija has been the Principal Judge of the High Court, a position the Judicial Service Commission has not filled so far and his new role that will see him oversee a significant portion of the country’s judicial functions.
His appointment comes at a critical time for the Judiciary, which is in the process of expanding its capacity to deal with an increasing number of cases.
In the same appointments, the President filled the vacant seat left by Justice Esther Kisaakye’s flight to exile last year and was replaced on the Supreme Court bench with Justice Muzamil Mutangula Kibeedi to strengthen and handle the most complex and impactful cases in legal system.
The appointments also includes eight Justices to the Court of Appeal with High Court judge Musa Ssekaana the most notable among those newly appointed and others are Lady Justices Ketra Kitariisibwa Katunguka, Sabiiti Cornelia Kakooza, Stella Alibateese, Florence Nakacwa, Esta Nambayo, Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema and John Mike Musisi.
The appointments, made in line with the country’s commitment to strengthening its judicial system, were also confirmed by the President on February 6th 2025.
The Acting Senior communications officer at the Judicial Service Commission Ms Maria Theresa Nabulya, said that these new appointments will bolster the appellate system in the judiciary to ensure that case appeals are handled with the expertise and efficiency that the country’s legal system demands.
Ms Nabulya said that in addition to these key appointments, the President appointed 21 Acting Judges to the High Court, for a period of two years and this list includes figures such as Sarah Langa Siu, who until December was the Registrar of the Judiciary.
Lady Justice Langa is joined by Lady Justices Rosemary Bareebe Ngabirano, Mary Babirye, Deepa Verma, Lillian Alum Omara and Ida Nakiganda, Mary Babirye, Mary Kaitesi Kisakye, Susan Odongo, Joanita Gertrude Bushara, Sarah Birungi Kalibbala, Flavia Grace Lamuno and Fatuma Nanziri Bwanika.
The President also reappointed Lady Justice Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa, who had run-ins with the Judiciary while she served as an Acting Judge of the High Court in Jinja when a ruling she made was challenged, but the Judicial Service Commission said that her reappointment for a period of one year follows the conclusion of her disciplinary proceedings.
The new appointments are expected to enhance the Judiciary’s capacity, improve the administration of justice, and uphold the rule of law in Uganda.
