UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The feud between Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo and senior Supreme Court Judge, Justice Dr. Esther Kitimbo Mayambala Kisakye, has extended to the new Supreme Court Complex located at the Judiciary Headquarters near Kampala City Square.
The complex, set to house the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, including the Constitutional Court, awaits President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s commissioning on February 9, 2024.
However, as of Friday, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) had yet to issue the occupational permit necessary for public use.
According to sources within KCCA and the Judiciary, the delay in issuing the permit stems from ongoing construction work at the building.
KCCA authorities clarified that they cannot issue the permit until the construction is complete and their engineers verify compliance with the approved plans.
Justice Kisakye was among the first to relocate her office to the new complex, leaving Col. John Mugenyi’s building in Wandegeya.
Efforts to confirm from Pius Bigirimana, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary, whether Justice Kisakye was allocated an office in the new complex were inconclusive.
Meanwhile, following the death of Justice Kisakye’s driver last year under unclear circumstances and President Museveni’s rejection of her request for early retirement and withdrawal of her research assistant, she reportedly frequents her office daily.
Sources close to her suggest that she gathers case lists as potential evidence against Chief Justice Dollo, anticipating a judicial committee to investigate allegations made by him.
However, the administrative affairs of the Supreme Court now fall under the purview of Lady Justice Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza, who was appointed by Chief Justice Dollo.
She is responsible for constituting panels to hear cases. The previous environment at Col. Mugenyi’s building was allegedly fraught with rumours of witchcraft, leading to a tense atmosphere among staff and justices.
Justice Kisakye’s troubles began in 2021 when she issued a dissenting ruling in favour of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) in the 2021 presidential petition.
She accused Chief Justice Dollo of confiscating her file containing her rulings, claiming he wanted to vet them before their public delivery.
Chief Justice Dollo refuted the allegations and won a petition against Justice Kisakye in the Judicial Service Commission. However, she has challenged his win in the Constitutional Court, awaiting a hearing date.
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