Judicial Appointments and Promotions are Based on Merit

His Worship Paul Gadenya

12 May 2015 – Nobody gets appointed or promoted into judicial ranks without a proper interview process by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Judiciary said.

The vacancies are advertised publicly for all to apply and successful candidates are offered the jobs on merit after JSC confirms their professional competences and integrity.

"The occupation of judicial officers is based on competence. You enter on merit and will be promoted on merit,” said Mr Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa, the Chief Registrar of Courts of Judicature.

This was in response to a May 6 provocative anonymous email sent to JSC’s Secretary, Mr. Kagole Kivumbi, by people who claimed to be members of the Marginalised Magistrates Advocacy Plan (MMAP), a non-descript organisation. They accused Mr Kivumbi of frustrating their promotions.

"The decisions to promote our officers are made by a fully constituted JSC, and it has nothing to do with Mr Kagole Kivumbi. Anonymous messages cannot get anybody promoted,” said Mr Gadenya Paul. "Any Magistrate who feels marginalised should petition the JSC through the Chief Registrar for consideration instead of resorting to clandestine manoeuvres which violate penal laws and the Judicial Code of Conduct.”

Mr Gadenya revealed that there are 77 vacancies in the Judiciary’s higher and lower bench today, but cautioned the judicial officers that the positions were competitive as they are also open competent lawyers in private practice who are eligible and apply for the same positions.

The Judiciary gets equally concerned about the delayed promotions of judicial officers, according to Mr Gadenya, and periodically updates JSC with names of the affected officers for possible promotion to suitable positions.

On 10 February 2015, the Chief Registrar forwarded 30 names of stagnated magistrates to JSC, highlighting that some of them had not been promoted for as long as 16 years. "I urge the Judicial Service Commission to consider stagnation in service as a serious human resource problem, with negative impact on the administration of justice,” Mr Gadenya wrote in part.

"Stagnation could be something to do with a judicial officer’s competences or past conduct. We know so because some really get promoted but there are those that never go past the interviews.

As a result, in late March 2015, Isa Serunkuuma (53), who had stagnated at the rank of a Principal Grade One Magistrate, was elevated to a Chief Magistrate. Janeva Natukunda (40), who had stagnated for 16 years at the rank of Grade One Magistrate, was also promoted to Principal Grade One Magistrate.

At the same time, JSC appointed eight new magistrates at the level of Grade One Magistrates.

Notes to Editors

The Judiciary currently has a total of 77 vacancies up for grabs both at the higher bench (21) and lower bench (40). Potential candidates have since March been attending interviews with JSC to fill three (03) Supreme Court justices’ positions; Court of Appeal (03); and High Court (15). Other vacancies include three (03) for Registrars, Deputy Registrars (16), Assistant Registrars (04), Chief Magistrates (2), Senior Principal Magistrate Grade 1 (04); Principal Magistrate Grade 1 (04); Senior Magistrate Grade 1 (10) and Magistrates Grade I (29).

For further information, please contact:

Solomon Muyita

Senior Communications Officer

The Judiciary - Public Affairs & Communication Office

Mobile: +256 (0) 77 220 0089

Email: smuyita[at]judicature.go.ug