Justice Musota appointed Chief Inspector of Courts

KAMPALA, UGANDA: Supreme Court Judge, Justice Stephen Musota has been appointed as the new Chief Inspector of Courts, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has confirmed.

“I have just appointed a new Chief Inspector of Courts, Justice Stephen Musota following the unfortunate demise of Justice Rubby Opio Aweri,” CJ Owiny-Dollo said on Monday, January 30, 2023, at the ongoing 24th Annual Judges Conference at the Mestil Hotel and Residences in Kampala.

The four-day Conference officially opened by President Museveni this morning will run until February 2, 2023.

Justice Musota was first appointed as a Magistrate Grade One in 1984, 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.

He was later 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. On February 8, 2018 he was then appointed to the Court of Appeal.

In November 2022, Musota was appointed by President Museveni to the Supreme Court bench together with Justice Christopher Madrama and Justice Elizabeth Musoke.

The Chief Inspector of Court’s position was created by the Chief Justice in his efforts to strengthen the Inspectorate wing of the Judiciary by empowering it to inspect, receive complainants and investigate cases of judicial officers and judiciary staff of all cadres.

Previously, the Inspector of Courts was being run and headed by a high court registrar, a position which made it difficult for the officer bearer to inspect and take decisive action against errant senior judicial officers in appellate courts like the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The Chief Inspector of Courts will, among other strategic reforms, lend support towards the Judiciary’s anti-corruption initiatives through the implementation of the Judiciary Anti-Corruption Plan of Action and strengthen accountability.