Newly Appointed Judges Undergo Vetting.

The newly appointed Deputy Chief Justice, Flavian Zeija, alongside eight justices of the Court of Appeal and 21 acting High Court judges, appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee today for a vetting session. The nominees emphasized their commitment to upholding the rule of law and expressed optimism about addressing the longstanding challenge of case backlog.

Key Highlights

Last week, President Yoweri Museveni appointed Flavian Zeija, the former Principal Judge of the High Court, as Deputy Chief Justice. Zeija is set to replace Justice Richard Buteera, who will retire in April 2025. Today, Zeija and other nominees faced the Appointments Committee, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, in a closed-door vetting session.

Among the vetted appointees were judges Deepa Verma, Sarah Langa Siu, and Isaac Bonny Teko. Speaking briefly to the media, they expressed their gratitude and excitement for their appointments.

Commitment to the Rule of Law

The appointees reiterated the importance of upholding the rule of law, delivering justice fairly, and maintaining professionalism within the judiciary.

Justice Isaac Bonny Teko: "We are dedicated to ensuring that justice is delivered efficiently and fairly." Justice Deepa Verma: "Judicial independence and integrity remain our priority as we take on these new roles." Justice Sarah Langa Siu: "We are ready to serve and help tackle the backlog of cases that has delayed justice for many."

Addressing Case Backlog

With approximately 12,000 cases currently pending in the Court of Appeal, the newly appointed justices expressed optimism that the expanded judicial team will help alleviate the case backlog.

Justice Deepa Verma and Justice Sarah Langa Siu acknowledged the challenge but remained hopeful that with increased manpower, the judicial system would operate more efficiently.

Next Steps

The Appointments Committee is tasked with evaluating nominees based on their experience, integrity, and commitment to judicial independence. Their recommendations will be forwarded to the President for final verification before the appointments are officially confirmed.