Supreme Court of Uganda

The Supreme Court of Uganda is the highest judicial organ in Uganda. It derives its powers from Article 130 of the 1995 Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court with original jurisdiction in only one type of case: a presidential election petition.[1]

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Location

The Supreme Court Building is located at 10 Upper Kololo, at the corner with Mabua Road, on Kololo Hill. This is in the Central Division of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.[1] The coordinates of the Supreme Court Building are: 0°19'45.0"N, 32°35'23.0"E (Latitude:0.329165; Longitude:32.589725).[2]

Overview

The Supreme Court is headed by the chief justice and has ten other justices. The quorum required for a court decision varies depending on the type of case under consideration. When hearing a constitutional appeal, the required quorum is seven justices. In a criminal or a civil appeal, only five justices are required for a quorum.[1]

In the absence of the chief justice, the most senior member of the court presides. The court sits eight sessions a year with a break of two weeks between sessions to conduct research and write judgments. It has the power to uphold, reverse, substitute its judgment, or order a new trial when hearing an appeal from a lower court.[1]

Composition

As of 22 August 2020, the following justices sat on the Supreme Court:[3]

  1. Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Chief Justice of Uganda
  2. Stella Arach-Amoko[4]
  3. Esther Mayambala Kitimbo Kisaakye
  4. Eldad Mwangusya
  5. Rubby Opio Aweri
  6. Faith Essy Mwondha
  7. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza
  8. Paul Mugamba[5]
  9. Michael Chibita[6]
  10. Ezekiel Muhanguzi[6]
  11. Percy Tuhaise[6]

Cases heard

Among the controversial cases heard by the Supreme Court was in 2008 when the validity of the death penalty was contested. The case was heard on appeal from the constitutional court. The main appellant was Susan Kigula who has since lost her appeal against her own death sentence for murdering her husband.[7]

Other cases include four of the last five presidential election petitions in which the court ruled 3:2 in 2001, 4:3 in 2006, 5:4 in 2011, and 9:0 in 2016 in favor of President Yoweri Museveni's re-election.[8]

List of chief justices

Republic of Uganda

Uganda Protectorate

See also

References
  1. Uganda Judiciary (19 October 2016). "The Supreme Court of Uganda". Kampala: The Judiciary of Uganda. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. Google (19 October 2016). "Location of the Supreme Court of Uganda Building" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. Uganda Judiciary (1 January 2019). "The Honourable Justices Of The Supreme Court Of Uganda". Kampala: The Judiciary of Uganda. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  4. Isaac Prince Mulindwa (21 March 2016). "The Judges of the Supreme Court of Uganda - Their Career Side". Kampala: Medium.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  5. Arinaitwe, Solomon (8 September 2017). "I am not a cadre judge- Owiny-Dollo". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  6. Geoffery Serugo (6 December 2019). "DPP Mike Chibita, two others appointed to Supreme Court". Kampala: The Eagle Uganda. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  7. ULII (2004). "Susan Kigula Sseremba & Anor vs Uganda (Criminal Appeal Number 1 of 2004)". Kampala: Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII). Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  8. Observer Media Limited (1 April 2016). "Judges: Why we rejected Amama petition 9 - 0". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  9. Anthony Wesaka (22 March 2013). "Chief Justice Odoki retires". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  10. "No. 39104". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1951. p. 2.
  11. Straits Times Reporter (6 September 1937). "Sir Roger Hall New F.M.S. Chief Justice". The Straits Times. p. 12. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
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