Mao happy working with supportive Museveni

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao has expressed his ‘relief and pleasure that there is very little friction between the Judiciary and other branches of the government’ and thanked President Yoweri Museveni for supporting him in the last four months since he joined the ruling regime.

“We have received unprecedented support from you personally, the Executive and Parliament as manifested in the improved terms of service and improved infrastructural development,” Mao said.

Mao was speaking at State House, Entebbe where Museveni was meeting the newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The meeting was held yesterday, Wednesday 25th January 2023.

The three new Justices of the Supreme Court include Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke, Justice Stephen Musota, Justice Madrama Christopher Martin Izama and Justice Eva Luswata Kauma, for the Court of Appeal, had earlier taken their oaths and were only being introduced to the President.

The oaths were administered by the Judiciary Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa Siu. Justice Oscar John Kihika of the Court of Appeal was also sworn in at the same ceremony.

Among the gains Judiciary has earned from a good relationship with the Executive is increased financing as attested by Alfonse Owiny Dollo, the Chief Justice, who also attended the meeting. “With the enhanced budget we have been able to double the number of judicial officers,” Owiny Dollo said.

Mao observed that an enhanced budget manifests that there will be less dependence on donors. The Justice Minister announced that the new structure of the judiciary is in the offing to ensure that Judges appointed have the necessary support.

In his speech, the President stressed that diagnostical analysis of society is always done by the political leadership that includes the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary who act as Medical Doctors observing that if the diagnosis is wrongly done, the economy will collapse but if done correctly the economy will flourish.

The President congratulated the newly appointed Judges and commended Owiny Dollo for improving the performance of the Judiciary.