Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi Dollo has responded to President Yoweri Museveni’s complaints against bail for capital offenders especially murder suspects.
Yesterday, Museveni re-echoed his call for murder suspects to be denied bail.
“For somebody to kill a person and then the court gives him/her bail is a provocation. It is abominable. I would like us to cure this ideological disagreement. This bail, what is the hurry? Who are you trying to please?” said Museveni.
While delivering his address at the 4th Ben Kiwanuka Memorial Lecture at high court grounds in Kampala this afternoon, CJ Owinyi Dollo said the law accords judicial officers’ discretion to grant bail.
“The Constitution allows the granting of bail. A judicial officer doesn’t wake up from the wrong side of the bed and deny bail or wake up from the right side of the bed and allow bail,” said Owiny Dollo.
He explained that there are many factors to consider, and the judicial officer must look at all circumstances to grant bail.
Owiny Dollo advised the judicial officials to live by their oath of upholding the Constitution without fear or favor in all their works.
The Chief Justice also stated his concern with the continuous torture of suspects, which he said waters down the legacy of the late Benedicto Kiwanuka who is being remembered for his stance for the rule of law.
He also said that justice should not be monetized by according it to the most bidder.
“We have zero tolerance for any form of corruption. The fight against real or perceived corruption should not be left to the judicial officials alone,” he said.