President Yoweri Museveni has appointed High Court judge Dr. Douglas Karekona Singiza as the new Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). This commission is crucial in recruiting and disciplining judicial officers in Uganda.
The appointment was communicated to the Speaker of Parliament in a letter dated February 25. Justice Singiza succeeds Justice Benjamin Isingoma Kabiito, whose tenure ended on January 21.
In addition to Justice Singiza’s appointment, Justice Rosette Comfort Kania has been named Deputy Chairperson of the JSC, filling the vacancy left by Justice Faith Mwondha, whose term also concluded on January 21.
The JSC, established under Article 146 of the Ugandan Constitution, comprises nine officials responsible for the recruitment and discipline of judicial officers. As of January, five commission officials completed their terms, creating vacancies that the President is now addressing. Notably, positions representing the Uganda Law Society, previously held by Ruth Sebatindira and Norah Matovu Muwanga, remain vacant.
Justice Singiza, 56, has recently been in the public eye for presiding over several high-profile cases, including the habeas corpus application filed by detained opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye.
These appointments are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s judiciary by ensuring that key positions within the JSC are filled with qualified and experienced individuals.
