Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1129 EAT on Friday 15 May 2026

The Uganda Law Society has raised concerns over the appointment of Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi as deputy chief justice and Agnes Alum as chief registrar of the Judiciary.

In a statement issued by ULS vice president Anthony Asiimwe, the lawyers’ body said the appointments were made while constitutional challenges concerning the legality of the Judicial Service Commission remain unresolved.

Asiimwe said that although the ULS does not oppose the filling of key judicial vacancies, the appointments could face legal challenges because Constitutional Petition No. 11 of 2025 and Constitutional Application No. 12 of 2025 are still pending before the Constitutional Court of Uganda.

“These matters directly challenge the legality of the composition and operations of the Judicial Service Commission, the constitutionality of the Judicial Service Act as amended, the 2025 Judicial Service Regulations, and the validity of all recruitment and appointment processes flowing therefrom,” Asiimwe said.

The ULS argues that the current composition and operations of the JSC contravene Article 146 of the Constitution because the commission allegedly lacks duly nominated representatives from the Uganda Law Society.

“We call upon the court to expedite the hearing and determination of the aforementioned constitutional matters, as well as Civil Appeals 98 and 99 of 2025, which were arbitrarily removed from the Court of Appeal cause list in July 2025, delaying the election of ULS nominees to the JSC,” Asiimwe said.

“Until these matters are conclusively resolved, any appointments arising from the current process risk being affected by the very irregularities under challenge, potentially undermining public confidence in the Judiciary and exposing the appointees to avoidable legal disputes,” Anthony Asiimwe said.

The Uganda Law Society argued that recommendations made by the Judicial Service Commission in the absence of ULS representation could ultimately be declared null and void by the courts.

The lawyers’ body further cautioned that proceeding with senior judicial appointments before the pending constitutional petitions are determined risks weakening judicial legitimacy, constitutional order and public trust in the Judiciary.

The ULS also called on the Constitutional Court of Uganda to urgently hear and determine the pending constitutional cases, together with Civil Appeals 98 and 99 of 2025, which it said were removed from the Court of Appeal cause list in July 2025, delaying the election of the society’s representatives to the JSC.

The society reaffirmed its commitment to promoting judicial independence, constitutionalism and merit-based appointments within the Judiciary.

-Observer

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