Parliament passes Judicature Amendment Bill 2023

By Francis Lubega

29^th Nov 2023

Parliament has passed the judicature amendment bill 2023 and has rejected a proposal by the government to increase the number of Supreme Court judges.

The bill was introduced for second reading by government chief whip Hamson Obua and was seconded by NRM members of parliament and independent mps despite the opposition being in parliament.

Government in the bill had sought to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 11 to 21 and also increase the number of judges at court of appeal from 15 to 56.

The chairperson of parliament’s committee on legal and parliament affairs Robinah Rwakoojo while reading the committee report rejected the proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court judges and instead advised the government appoint temporary judges to handle the backlog at Supreme Court and also review the scope of work at the Supreme Court.

The minister of justice and constitutional affairs Nobert Mao expressed his displeasure at the committee and accused them of back stabbing him as they had agreed with the committee to increase the number of judges to at least 15 instead of 21 but this did not stop parliament rejecting his proposal.

Parliament has also rejected the government’s proposal to increase the number of judges of court of appeal from 15to 56 and has instead agreed to increase the number to 35.

Rwakoojo in her submission had asked parliament to increase the number to 30 but minister Nobert Mao pleaded with parliament to add him to at least 5 other judges which was approved by parliament.

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