Controversial and renowned city lawyer Male Mabirizi has petitioned the office of the Speaker and clerk to parliament challenging the appointment of Richard Buteera as the Deputy Chief Justice.
On Thursday, President Museveni appointed Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Supreme Court Justice Richard Buteera as the new Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice respectively.
Mabirizi says that as a civically active Ugandan he is contesting the constitutional procedural irregularity in which Richard Buteera was appointed.
Mabirizi alleges that at the time of Richard Buteera’s nomination as the new deputy chief justice the said position was not vacant. Male Mabirizi continues to say that the same position deputy chief justice was not advertised by the Judicial Service Commission as required by the law under Article 144(1).
Justice Richard Buteera who was also a contender for the position of Chief Justice has been a justice of supreme court and was recently appointed to the Judicial Service Commission to replace Jotham Tumwesigye who retired in September last year.
Justice Owiny-Dollo has been the Acting Chief Justice since June 20 when then substantive Chief Justice Bart Katureebe retired upon clocking 70 years.
The Chief Justice is the head of the Judiciary, which is one of the three arms of State, and it is the fourth most powerful office in the country after that of the President, Vice president and Speaker of Parliament.
Important to note is that Justice Owiny-Dollo becomes the first Chief Justice to be elevated from the position of Deputy Chief Justice.
Justice Owiny Dollo became famous for having presided over the trial of the Kampala twin bombings in which he convicted several suspects for being behind the killing of at least 76 football fans at Kyadondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village in Kabalagala.
