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Owiny-Dollo explained that it is not the role of judicial officers to make public statements on such issues
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By Our Reporter
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has sharply criticized those claiming that Uganda's Judiciary is in crisis, stating that the real crisis lies in their minds. His comments came during the 7th memorial lecture for former Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka, held at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala. Owiny-Dollo highlighted the significant increase in the Judiciary's budget since he took office, from UGX 198 billion to UGX 460 billion. He defended his engagement with the President and Speaker of Parliament, noting that such relationships are crucial for securing necessary resources.
“I hear some people saying the Judiciary is in crisis. Leave those people with a crisis in their heads and continue with your work,” he told judicial officers.
Responding to demands for the Chief Justice to speak out against human rights abuses, Owiny-Dollo explained that it is not the role of judicial officers to make public statements on such issues. Instead, they should address them when cases are brought before the courts. He referred to former Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka as an example, who never publicly condemned human rights violations but made his stance clear through his rulings.
Kiwanuka, Uganda’s first Chief Justice, was abducted by soldiers in 1972 and presumed murdered, though his burial site remains unknown. Owiny-Dollo praised him for defending the rule of law, even under threat of death. “This notion that if there is teargas on the streets, the Chief Justice must speak up—it is either done out of ignorance or professional dishonesty,” Owiny-Dollo remarked.
He emphasized the importance of the Judiciary working with both the Executive and Parliament, likening the three branches of government to "three cooking stones" that do not touch but must complement each other for the nation's progress.
In a speech delivered by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, President Yoweri Museveni praised the Judiciary for honoring Kiwanuka, whose murder he called a cold-blooded atrocity committed by Idi Amin's regime. Museveni used the occasion to reflect on Uganda's history of extrajudicial killings, which he said motivated his fight for democracy and the rule of law.
Since taking power in 1986, Museveni said his government has worked to restore the rule of law and promote peace, development, and prosperity. Speaker Among echoed Owiny-Dollo’s call for collaboration among the branches of government, stressing that it benefits the citizens they serve.
Speaker Anita Among represented President Museveni
Who Was Benedicto Kiwanuka?
Before his Judiciary appointment, Benedicto Kiwanuka was a prominent political figure instrumental in Uganda’s independence in 1962. Born in Bukomansimbi District in 1922, he was a lawyer, leader of the Democratic Party, Chief Minister of Uganda's Self-Government (1961-62), and the country’s first Prime Minister.
In 1969, Kiwanuka was imprisoned by President Milton Obote’s government. He was released by Idi Amin in January 1971 following a coup and appointed Chief Justice in March 1971.
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