In March this year, President Museveni appointed Justice Jane Francis Abodo as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and she was vetted and approved by the Parliamentary Appoints Committee chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on April 6, 2020.
Today, a Ugandan democracy and human rights watchdog known as Legal Brains Trust has petitioned the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) challenging Abodo’s appointment to the position, because according to Ivan Sengendo, one of the Legal Brains Trust’s directors says that there were legal irregularities in her appointment process.
Sengendo argues that the law provides for approval for appointments to require a recommendation from the Public Service Commission, which did not happen in case of Abodo’s appointment. Sengendo says that there was no fair competition during Abodo’s appointment as she “received preferential treatment over other judicial officers who could have wished to work as DPP,” as quoted by The Independent.
In the petition filed at the Registrar of the East African Court of Justice in Kampala, Legal Brains Trust wants the court to annul Abodo’s appointment to the position.
It should be noted that controversial city lawyer Male Mabirizi also petitioned the same court last month challenging Abodo’s appointment as Uganda’s DPP.