Judiciary gets 3 more Muslims
By Abdul Wahid Kakande
Three Muslims are among the 38 newly appointed magistrates, an assessment by The Friday Call reveals.
The Judicial Service Commission this week announced the appointment of new judicial officers at the rank of Magistrate Grade One, rising the number of Muslims in the judiciary to about 20.
Joweria Nakyeyune, Hakeem Ssempagala and Abubaker Mugambe are the latest additions to the judiciary service. They join a group six Muslims namely; Elias Kakooza, Said Barigye, Sarah Namusobya, Mariam Semwanga Nalugya, Aisha Nabukeera and Hood Matovu who are serving as chief magistrates.
At the level of court registrars are eight Muslims; Eliasa Omar Kisawuzi, Zulaika Nanteza, Faisal Umar Mulalira, Mastulah Mulondo, Rashida Butanula, Nassif Umar Mubiru, Nusulah Nankya and Rania Naluyima.
Muslim judges at the High Court level include Musa Ssekaana, Farouq Lubega, Isah Sserunkuma, Aisha Naluzze Batala, Celia Nagawa and Shamilah Farida Bukirwa whose instrument of appointment is yet to be signed by the President.
Justice Muzamir Kibeedi remains the highest ranking judicial officer being the only Muslim at the Court of Appeal and Constitutional court since none of the 11 justices of the Supreme court is a Muslim.
UNDERREPRESENTED?
Various Muslim leaders have in the past contested the alleged marginalization of Muslims in government appointments. During his time as the Imam of Parliament, former Kawempe North MP, Latif Ssebaggala wrote protest letters contesting what he terms as continuation of the historical injustice and marginalization of Muslims.
Dr Zahara Nampewo, the deputy principal of the school of law at Makerere University attributes the underrepresentation of Muslims in government positions to the country’s history of formal education, which favoured Christian organisations and institutions.
During the colonial period, Muslims had limited access to quality formal education, and their schools received minimal financial support.
However, Mwajuma Nakku, the only female Muslim lawyer at Uganda Revenue Authority argues that many now possess the necessary qualifications and simply need to apply for government positions.
JUSTICE BUKIRWA
On Thursday, November 28, Butambala Woman MP Aisha Asha Kabanda raised Bukirwa’s matter on the floor of Parliament, demanding an explanation from the government as to why Justice Bukirwa remains undeployed, despite Parliament approving her appointment as a substantive judge of the High Court.
Bukirwa was among the 16 judicial officers appointed in 2022 in an acting capacity. Two years later, the President forwarded their names to Parliament for approval as substantive judges.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, Lady Justice Faridah Bukirwa was the only Muslim among the 16, but to date, she has not received her instrument of appointment, yet we approved her name. I want to know from the Prime Minister, who is standing in her way? Who is frustrating her?” Kabanda inquired.
The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, asked Parliament for more time to study the matter. However, the Speaker, Annet Anita Among, informed the House that Bukirwa’s appointment was affected by “some politics” which made her the subject of an investigation by the Judicial Service Commission. She asked Nabbanja to update Parliament on the outcome of the investigation.
