By Solomon Muyita
June 30, 2004
KAMPALA - The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki has asked the government and Ugandans to leave the courts to function without any intimidation. Mr Odoki also urged the courts to continue functioning normally as per their judicial oath of executing their duties without fear or favour. This comes in the wake of attacks on the Judiciary and judges by a cross-section of the public, starting from President Yoweri Museveni over their ruling against the 2000 Referendum Act on Friday. Museveni accused the judges of usurping the power of the people by declaring the referendum null and void. Odoki, who was launching a Uganda Human Rights Commission Corporate Plan for 2004 - 2009, re-assured the Judiciary that he had taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of the courts. �I am constrained to comment on this matter of great importance because it has caused tension in the public. As head of the Judiciary, I want to assure the country and everybody that the judgement of the Constitutional Court has and will not cause a constitutional, political or judicial crisis in this country.
�I have read all the rulings of the five judges and I want to appeal to the people and government to be calm because the ruling did not touch the pillars of the State. They remain secure in the Constitution. The Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are duly appointed and will continue to function,� Odoki said. He commended the government�s idea to appeal against the verdict. �I commend the decision to appeal because it is going to restore everything peacefully through the rule of law,� he said. He said he presided over some matters in the Supreme Court at Mengo yesterday just to ensure that the courts are still functioning normally. �Its good it�s us who have provided the Chief Justice a platform to defend the rule of law in this country,� she said. Odoki said that UHRC work complements that of the courts and that the organisation should be retained in the Constitution. He said their corporate plan would make their services more accessible by many people because of the introduction of many offices countrywide. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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