Retired Chief Justice Alfonso Owiny-Dollo has come out to distance allegations that President Yoweri Museveni has for long interfered in the work of the Judiciary, insisting that during his tenure, judicial independence was respected and upheld.
Speaking on his time at the helm of the Judiciary, Owiny-Dollo pushed back against claims of executive pressure on courts, saying he never once received instructions or influence from the President regarding judicial decisions.
“There has not been a single day that the President has called me to discuss a case. I can assure you that the judiciary is independent,” Owiny-Dollo said.
He revealed that he openly engaged President Museveni on the importance of safeguarding the rule of law, reminding him of the ideals that inspired the liberation struggle.
“I told the President, ‘You went to the bush because of the rule of law. You cannot be the same person who fought for the rule of law and then preside over a country with a weakened judiciary,’” he said.
According to the retired Chief Justice, the President was receptive to this position and offered tangible support to strengthen the justice system.
“He understood our position and supported the judiciary by increasing our budget and recruiting more judicial officers,” Owiny-Dollo noted.
He further highlighted structural reforms aimed at improving access to justice, particularly for rural communities that had long been underserved.
“I also came up with the idea of establishing courts in the countryside, not just in urban centres. This has been implemented, and court services are now accessible even in the villages,” he added.
It should be noted that President Museveni has for long been accused by critics, opposition figures, and sections of civil society of meddling in the affairs of the Judiciary, accusations they argue have rendered the institution weak and susceptible to executive influence. The President has, however, repeatedly denied these claims.
Owiny-Dollo’s remarks add a contrasting perspective to the long-running debate on judicial independence in Uganda, coming from a former head of the Judiciary who directly interacted with the executive during his time in office.
