Uganda’s Judiciary has rubbished claims that the country’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held a secret meeting with it’s top leadership.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Judiciary says reports that the meeting took place and that a police officer who leaked video showing the same was arrested, are nothing but fake news.
“Whereas we cannot comment about the reported arrest of a police officer — for we have no official information to that effect — we would like to clarify that Judiciary’s top leadership never participated in any “secret meeting.’ with the President,” the statement says in part.
“We condemn such falsehoods being published for whatever reasons.”
It adds, “It is public knowledge that Judiciary’s top administration was at State House Entebbe on February 10, 2021, for the swearing-in ceremony of the Hon. Lady Justice Margaret Apiny, a newly appointed Judge of the High Court.
It is a requirement of the law in Schedule to the Oath Act (Section 2 and 3rd Colurnn) for such a Judicial Oath to be taken before the President or any other person authorized by the President.”
The statement however, says the Chief Justice used the occasion to “present Judiciary’s Budget estimates for 2021/22 Financial Year to the President as required by the Administration of Judiciary Act, 2020.”
It should further be noted that on February 16, 2021, the Chief Justice Owiny – Dollo attended the Janani Luwum Day celebrations at State House Entebbe at the invitation of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. The statement adds, “This too was not in secret.”
The reports come as the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Dollo are in the process of hearing a petition by former Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine challenging last month’s presidential election results
