KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Yoweri Museveni has appointed three new Judges to the Supreme Court, and one to the Court of Appeal, the DailyExpress reports.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker dated October 31, Museveni appointed Justices Christopher Madrama Izama, Stephen Musota and Elizabeth Musoke to the Supreme Court.
In the same vein, Oscar Kihika, who has been serving as the NRM director for legal affairs has been appointed to the Court of Appeal.
“In Exercise of powers vested in the President by Article 142 (1) of the 1995 Constitution, I have, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, appointed justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal,” the instrument dated October, 31 reads in part.
About Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Uganda is the highest judicial organ in Uganda. It derives its powers from Article 130 of the 1995 Constitution. The institution is primarily an appellate court with original jurisdiction in only one type of case: a presidential election petition.
The Supreme Court is headed by the Chief Justice and supported by ten (10) Justices with the following quorum:-Constitutional Appeal Cases 7 Judges, Criminal Appeal Cases 5 Judges, Civil Appeal Cases 5 Judges
Profiles of the new appointees
Christopher Izama Madrama
Born in 1962, Christopher Madrama studied law at Makerere University, Uganda’s largest and oldest public university, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. The next year, he received a Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala, the national capital. He was then admitted to the Uganda Bar. Later, he obtained a Master of Laws degree in Women’s Law, from the University of Zimbabwe.
In 1990, he took up employment as a state attorney, in the Uganda Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, working in that capacity until 1999. He was then elevated to Principal State Attorney.
Later in 1999, he left the Justice ministry and joined the Law Development Centre as a Senior Legal Officer. From 2001 until 2010, Christopher Madrama was a Principal Legal Associate at Katende Ssempebwa and Company Advocates, a large firm in the city of Kampala, Uganda’s capital. This was his last job in the private sector, prior to joining the bench.
He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Uganda in June 2010. Over the years, he served in various divisions of the high court, including the commercial division and the executions division. In February 2018, Madrama was appointed to the Uganda Court of Appeal and was successfully vetted by the Ugandan parliament.
Elizabeth Musoke
She earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Makerere University, the nation’s oldest and largest public University. She also obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala, the country’s capital city. She was admitted to the Uganda Bar as a practicing lawyer.
She worked with the ministry of justice for several years and left at the rank of Principal State Attorney to join the Inspectorate of Government as Director of Legal Affairs in 1999.
In July 2013, she was appointed to serve as a judge of the High Court of Uganda, assigned to the civil division, serving in that capacity until October 2015, when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal, which doubles as the Constitutional Court of Uganda.
Stephen Musota
He is a Ugandan lawyer and judge, on the Court of Appeal of Uganda, which doubles as the country’s Constitutional Court. He was appointed to the court of appeal on 8 February 2018.
He studied law at Makerere University, Uganda’s largest and oldest public university, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. The next year, he received a Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala, the national capital. He was then admitted to the Uganda Bar.
In 1984, he was appointed as a Magistrate Grade One, rising to the level of Senior Principal Magistrate Grade One in 1992. He went on to work as Chief Magistrate, then as Deputy Registrar and then as Registrar of the High Court.
Later in 2000, he was promoted to the position of the chief registrar of the Judiciary, serving in that capacity until 2004. In 2004 he was appointed to the bench, as a member of the High Court of Uganda. He has a special interest in Civil Law.
He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Uganda in 2004. He served as the head of the civil division of the high court. In February 2018, Musota was appointed to the Uganda Court of Appeal and was successfully vetted by the Ugandan parliament.
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