President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Dr Flavian Zeija as the new Deputy Chief Justice, state house confirms.
He replaces Richard Buteera who will clock the mandatory retirement age of 70 years in April.
The President also promoted Justice Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi to the Supreme Court and also promoted the Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu to a position of Acting Judge of the High Court.
The President has also appointed 8 Justices of the Court of Appeal on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
“In addition, H.E. the President has also appointed 21 Judges of the High Court in acting capacity into the Judiciary Service for two years from the date of assumption of duty”, adds the statement.
The appointments were part of the last activities conducted by the 6th Commission, led by Justice Benjamin Kabiito whose term of office expired on the 21st of January 2025.
Among the other notable promotions made is the elevation of Justice Musa Ssekaana who has been the head of the High Court Civil Division to the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court.
Ssekaana ‘s career has been marred by controversies especially with the Uganda Law Society-ULS members accusing him of gross misconduct and asking him to step down in hearing some cases in vain.
Ssekaana has always made it clear that he took the oath to dispense Justice without fear or favour and criticized what he described as forum shopping by lawyers (those who want certain Judicial Officers to be the ones to handle their cases).
In 2021, known for having always delivered so many judgments within a short period, the Uganda Law Society gave him an award winner for “Excellence from the Bench”. The bar has, however, since accused him of professional misconduct and withdrawn that award from him.
The others appointed/promoted to the Court of Appeal include Lady Justice Ketra Kitariisibwa Katunguka, Lady Justice Sabiiti Cornelia Kakooza, Stella Alibateese who is a newcomer in the Judiciary, Lady Justice Florence Nakacwa, Byaruhanga Jesse Rugyema, Musisi John Mike a newcomer, Lady Justice Esta Nambayo who has been at the Civil Division with justice Ssekaana.
The others appointed as Acting High Court Judges include Sarah Langa Siu, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, and Rosemary Bareebe Ngabirano, who has been a Registrar of the High Court.
The others include Mary Babirye, the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court. Lillian Alum Omara a celebrated Senior State Attorney and more passionate about terrorism attached in the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Charles Kasibayo, Mary Kaitesi Kisakye who has been the Registrar in charge of Data and Magistrates Affairs, Susan Odongo, Karooli Lwanga Ssemogerere, Joanita Gertrude Bushara, Simon Peter Kinobe Mutegeki who was just recently appointed in Judiciary service, Vincent Opyene, and Sarah Birungi Kalibbala.
The others are Isaac Teko Bony, and Deepa Verma, Flavia Grace Lamuno, Fatuma Nanziri Bwaniika, Human Rights Lawyer Kwemara Kafuuzi Gelase from private practice with Rwakafuuzi and Company Advocates law firm, Godfrey Himbaza, Andrew Khaukha, Dr. Ginamia Melody Ngwatu and Ida Nakiganda.
Although the President has appointed 21 Judicial Officers in Acting Capacities, the rules say a probationary appointment shall be for two years and any extension of a probationary appointment shall not exceed one year.
This is the third time that Museveni has appointed judicial officers in Acting Capacities.
He did it for the first time in 2022 and his decision was challenged successfully by Makerere University Law Don Dr Kabumba Busigye and lawyer Andrew Karamagi.
The Constitutional Court ruled that appointing judges in an acting capacity contravenes the 1995 Constitution and therefore is null and void.
Who is Dr Flavian Zeija
Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija is a lawyer, academic and the Principal Judge, which is the third highly ranking position in the Judiciary of Uganda which he has since been holding effective 25 December 2019. He replaced Dr Yorokamu Bamwine who was relieved of his duties after clocking the mandatory age for retirement.
Dr Flavian Zeija was born in Western Uganda on February 18th 1969. He attended local elementary and secondary schools. In 1993, he was admitted to Makerere University, where he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws degree. The following year, he obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in Kampala.
In 1999, he returned to Makerere University and was admitted to the Master’s program in Law. He graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 2002. His degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law was awarded by the University of Dar es Salaam in 2013. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree, obtained from the Uganda Martyrs University, in 2018. In addition, he has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of the United Kingdom, since 2012.
He has a wide experience as a practising attorney. He started in 1998, as a legal assistant with Kwesigabo, Bamwine, Walubiri & Company Advocates, a Kampala-based law firm. In the past, he worked at Tropical Africa Bank as manager of legal and recovery, between 2002 and 2003. He also worked at FINCA Uganda Limited as legal counsel. Before his appointment to the High Court of Uganda in 2016, he served as the managing partner at Zeija, Mukasa & Company Advocates, another Kampala-based law firm.
In addition to practising law, Flavian Zeija taught law at Uganda Christian University, Makerere University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). At MUBS he served as the founding head of the department of Business Law.
He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Uganda in 2016. He was then assigned as the Resident Judge of Mbarara High Court Circuit, the largest circuit in the country. While serving in that capacity, in December 2019, he was appointed to his current assignment as the Principal Judge for which he now leaves to start other duties as the Deputy Chief Justice.
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