Supreme Court of Uganda
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The Supreme Court of Uganda is the highest judicial organ in Uganda. It derives its powers from Article 130 of the 1995 Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court with original jurisdiction in only one type of case: a presidential election petition.[1]
Location
[edit]The Supreme Court Building is located at Plot 2, The Square, on Nakasero Hill. This is in the Central Division of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.[1] The coordinates of the Supreme Court Building are: 0°18'55.0"N, 32°34'47.0"E (Latitude:0.315278; Longitude:32.579722).[2]
Overview
[edit]The Supreme Court is headed by the chief justice and has ten other justices. The quorum required for a court decision varies depending on the type of case under consideration. When hearing a constitutional appeal, the required quorum is seven justices. In a criminal or a civil appeal, only five justices are required for a quorum.[1]
In the absence of the chief justice, the most senior member of the court presides. The court sits eight sessions a year with a break of two weeks between sessions to conduct research and write judgments. It has the power to uphold, reverse, substitute its judgment, or order a new trial when hearing an appeal from a lower court.[1]
Composition
[edit]As of 27 July 2024, the following justices sat on the Supreme Court:[3]
- Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Chief Justice of Uganda
- Monica Kalyegira Mugenyi
- Catherine Bamugemereire
- Esther Mayambala Kitimbo Kisaakye
- Faith Essy Mwondha
- Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza
- Michael Chibita[4]
- Percy Night Tuhaise[4][5]
- Christopher Izama Madrama
- Stephen Musota
- Elizabeth Musoke
Cases heard
[edit]Among the controversial cases heard by the Supreme Court was in 2008 when the validity of the death penalty was contested. The case was heard on appeal from the constitutional court. The main appellant was Susan Kigula who has since lost her appeal against her own death sentence for murdering her husband.[6]
Other cases include four of the last five presidential election petitions in which the court ruled 3:2 in 2001, 4:3 in 2006, 5:4 in 2011, and 9:0 in 2016 in favor of President Yoweri Museveni's re-election.[7]
List of chief justices
[edit]Republic of Uganda
[edit]- Since 2020 Alfonse Owiny-Dollo
- 2015 – 2020 Bart Magunda Katureebe
- 2013 – 2015 Steven Kavuma (acting)
- 2001 – 2013 Benjamin Josses Odoki[8]
- 1986 – 2001 Samuel Wako Wambuzi[8]
- 1985 – 1986 Peter Allen[8]
- 1980 – 1985 George Masika[8]
- 1979 – 1980 Samuel Wako Wambuzi[8]
- 1975 – 1979 Mohammed Saied[8]
- 1972 – 1975 Samuel Wako Wambuzi[8]
- 1971 – 1972 Benedicto Kiwanuka[8]
- 1969 – 1971 Dermot Joseph Sheridan[8]
- 1963 – 1969 Egbert Udo Udoma[8]
- 1962 – 1963 K. G. Bennet (acting)[8]
Uganda Protectorate
[edit]- 1956 – 1962 Audley McKisack
- 1952 – 1956 John Bowes Griffin
- 1947 – 1952 David Edwards [9]
- 1937 – 1947 Norman Whitley[10]
- 1935 – 1937 Robert Evans Hall[10]
- 1935 John Harry Barclay Nihill (acting)
- 1933 – 1934 Sidney Solomon Abrahams
- 1921 – 1932 Charles James Griffin
- 19nn – 1920 William Morris Carter
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Uganda Judiciary (27 July 2024). "The Supreme Court of Uganda". The Judiciary of Uganda (Uganda Judiciary). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Location of the Supreme Court of Uganda Building" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Uganda Judiciary (27 July 2024). "The Honourable Justices Of The Supreme Court Of Uganda". The Judiciary of Uganda (Uganda Judiciary). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b Geoffery Serugo (6 December 2019). "DPP Mike Chibita, two others appointed to Supreme Court". Kampala: The Eagle Uganda. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Mulengera News (24 May 2021). "Supreme Court Judge Percy Tuhaise Recuses Herself From Mabirizi, Kabaka Land Case". MulengeraNews.com. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ ULII (2004). "Susan Kigula Sseremba & Anor vs Uganda (Criminal Appeal Number 1 of 2004)". Kampala: Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII). Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ Observer Media Limited (1 April 2016). "Judges: Why we rejected Amama petition 9 - 0". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Anthony Wesaka (22 March 2013). "Chief Justice Odoki retires". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "No. 39104". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1951. p. 2.
- ^ a b Straits Times Reporter (6 September 1937). "Sir Roger Hall New F.M.S. Chief Justice". The Straits Times. p. 12. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
External links
[edit]- The Judiciary of Uganda Homepage
- Uganda Online Law Library - Courts and Judicature
- Uganda Online Law Library - Supreme Court of Uganda Rules - 76 pp pdf
- Uganda Legal Information Institute
- Uganda Law Society
- East African Law Society
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