Ugandan lawyers call for Douglas Singiza to resign
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Monitor
The Uganda Law Society is calling for Douglas Singiza, chair of the Judicial Service Commission, to resign following his alleged support for Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential bid. The association has also asked the Constitutional Court to consider a petition challenging Singiza’s appointment, according to Uganda Radio Network.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS), the Ugandan bar association, has called for Douglas Singiza to resign as chair of the Judicial Service Commission following his alleged support for General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential bid. The ULS announced its demand in a statement, reports Uganda Radio Network, cited by the Daily Monitor.
The association’s president, Isaac K. Ssemakadde, said Singiza’s presence at the headquarters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a movement that supports Muhoozi, called into question the neutrality expected of a senior judicial official. The ULS has also asked the Constitutional Court to urgently consider a petition challenging Singiza’s appointment and a request to prevent the commission from operating under his leadership.
The controversy was fuelled by the circulation of a photograph showing Singiza with MP Michael Mawanda at the PLU offices in Kampala. Singiza had not publicly confirmed or denied visiting the premises by the time the Daily Monitor published its article on Friday 30 October.
The demand comes as PLU supporters campaign for Muhoozi to run in the 2031 presidential election. On Tuesday, MP Daudi Kabanda said President Yoweri Museveni had endorsed his son at a meeting of the central executive committee of the ruling National Resistance Movement. Muhoozi’s candidacy had already been in the news following the announcement on 28 October.
Ssemakadde cited Article 128 of Uganda’s Constitution, which protects judicial independence, as well as the judicial code of conduct and the Bangalore Principles, which call on judges to remain impartial and refrain from political activity.
