Judiciary breaks silence on Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo’s health status

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Judiciary has finally spoken out and confirmed that the Chief Justice of Uganda, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo travelled abroad for medical treatment.

According to a press release released Thursday, June 22, the attention of the Judiciary was drawn to different media publications that earlier this week reported that CJ Dollo, 69, is critically ill, something which Jamson Karemani the Judiciary spokesperson strongly refuted.

“While it’s true that Hon. Chief Justice is out of the country receiving some medical attention, it is not correct that he is critically ill, or ill at all,” Karemani said.

“We, therefore, wish to dispel the unfolded and exaggerated reports about his health, and further reassure the general public that the Chief Justice will soon return and continue serving the people of Uganda,” the statement reads further

“Members of the public are therefore implored to stay calm and ignore the misleading publications about the Hon. Chief Justice.”

Although Karemani did not disclose where exactly the Chief Justice is receiving treatment from, DailyExpress has understood that he is hospitalised in Germany, Europe nursing a yet-to-be-known illness.

The Judiciary statement came after several outlets reported that the Chief Justice was fighting for his life in a hospital outside Uganda after several days of his absence from national events.

CJ Dollo was a no-show at the State-of-the-Nation address on June 7, at the National Heroes Day celebrations on June 9, the National Budget reading on June 15, and the special sitting of the Judiciary to honor former Supreme Court judge, Stella Arach-Amoko who died on June 17, among other national events.

This sparked speculation among members of the public about the Chief Justice’s health condition with many already rushing to believe reports making rounds on social media.

However, Mr Karemani in his Thursday statement described media reports about Owiny-Dollo’s health as “unfounded and exaggerated”, adding that “the Chief Justice will soon return and continue serving the people of Uganda.”

At the Wednesday memorial service of the late Supreme Court Judge Stella Arach-Amoko, the Chief Justice in a condolence message read by his deputy Richard Buteera said confirmed that he was out of the country, for now three weeks but assured Ugandans that he is getting better.

“It is painful that I will not be able to witness my sister (Arach) lowered to her final resting place because I am out of the country, for three weeks now, receiving some medical attention,” said Owiny-Dollo in his condolence message.