Politics 28 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Appointing Deputy CJ Risks Crippling Uganda's Judiciary and Republic
The ongoing search for Uganda's Deputy Chief Justice is a critical test of commitment to merit, transparency, and rule of law amid concerns over recent judicial appointments. Neglecting these principles could hollow out institutions like those in failed African states, turning the judiciary—the state's spinal cord—into a source of paralysis. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/search-for-deputy-cj-damage-the-spinal-cord-cripple-the-republic-5406162
The quest for a new Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) in Uganda arrives at a precarious moment. The judiciary remains shaken by the January 2026 Chief Justice appointment, which skipped competitive processes and sparked criticism from the Uganda Law Society for undermining due process and separation of powers.
This vacancy is more than a routine hire; it’s a pivotal referendum on whether merit and integrity still guide public appointments in a government showing signs of long-term decline.
African examples abound as stark warnings: from DR Congo’s prolonged strife and Somalia’s collapse to turmoil in Sudan, Libya, Eritrea, and others. These nations illustrate how ignoring rule of law erodes institutions, leading to curated dysfunction rather than accidental failure.
Nations like post-WWII Germany and Japan rebounded swiftly, proving recovery is possible—but only with strong institutions. Uganda cannot afford to toy with its judiciary, described as the state’s spinal cord. Damage it through opaque or loyalty-driven picks, and the republic risks paralysis, losing coordination and control.
The public demands a DCJ whose unassailable record inspires trust without defense, selected via transparent merit-based processes that reaffirm faith in justice. Disregard this, and Africa may become a graveyard of failed states, where collapse seems deliberate.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)