The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has said the ongoing “humiliation and persecution” of Justice Esther Kisakye by leaders within the judiciary is because she chose to defend the Constitution and the people of Uganda.
A couple of days ago, a war of words erupted between the Judiciary Permanent Secretary, Pius Bigirimana and Supreme Court judge, Lady Justice Esther Kisakye in regards to the latter’s salary.
This followed a July 1 2022 letter in which Bigirimana blocked Justice Kisakye from getting her salary claiming she been away from work without official leave for many months.
In a response, Kisakye accused Bigirimana of making serious allegations against her and the work she does, saying no justice of the Supreme Court has ever been required to report to the secretary to the judiciary or to submit an individual report to the permanent secretary as being demanded by Bigirimana.
Kyagulanyi however believes that the ongoing misunderstanding between the two is more than a salary dispute, saying that Kisakye is being fought for speaking the truth and standing together with the people of Uganda.
“Justice Kisakye is being hounded for choosing to defend the Constitution and her judicial oath instead of succumbing to the whims of the bandits who hold our country and its institutions hostage. For that, we hold her in the highest of regard and know that the future will vindicate her the same way it did the late Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka,” said Kyagulanyi in a statement.
Kyagulanyi said the ongoing humiliation and persecution of Kisakye by leaders within the judiciary is unfortunate and should be condemned.
“Article 128 of our Constitution guarantees judicial independence. However, there are so many judicial officers out there being victimised for resisting unseemly State interference with how they dispense justice,” he said.
Kyagulanyi claimed that experienced and qualified officers have been denied promotion in favour of their regime-leaning juniors.
““You might wonder why Justice Kisakye who has spent 13 years plus in the Supreme Court alone was passed over for Mr. Owiny-Dollo who was 10+ years her junior at that level,” said Kyagulanyi.
This was not the first time Justice Kisakye is getting into trouble with her a senior colleague.
Last year, during the hearing of the 2021 presidential election petition, there was a standoff between Kisakye and Owiny-Dollo which led her to forcefully read her minority ruling even when fellow justices of the Supreme Court refused to accompany her.
Drama ensued when the public address system and lights were switched off as Kisakye proceeded to address the press.
