Just as we thought city lawyer Male Mabirizi was looking for more evidence to pin Bobi Wine for lying about his age, the lawyer has taken up a new case where he has petitioned the East African Court of Justice contesting the appointment of Aliphonse Owiny Dollo as the Chief Justice of Uganda and Justice Richard Buteera as his Deputy.
In his petition filed to the East African Court sub registry in Kololo Kampala, Mabirizi claims the appointment process violated some provisions of the constitution as the Judicial Service Commission did not declare the position of Deputy Chief justice vacant to enable qualified individuals to submit their applications.
” Hon. Justice Richard Buteera was nominated to the position of Deputy Chief Justice which was not vacant at the time of nomination, approval and appointment, it being occupied by Hon. Justice Alphonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo,” he argued.
Mabirizi further claims that Parliament failed to address his caveat against the approval of the two persons.
“The Parliamentary vetting of Hon. Justice Alphonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo and Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, as Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda, respectively was closed out to the public and the press.”
Mabirizi contends that since the Report of Parliamentary Appointments Committee was never presented to the Parliamentary plenary for debate and voting, the process was unlawful and infringed on the fundamental and operational principles of the community which include Good governance and others
Mabirizi wants court to issue an order annulling the appointment and assumption of office of both the Chief justice and his Deputy.
Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo and Justice Richard Buteera yesterday sworn in for their respective positions and the ceremony was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe.