Uganda’s Judicial Service Commission Dismisses Two Judicial Officers for Misconduct

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) of Uganda has dismissed two judicial officers for misconduct, effective immediately, according to an announcement made on Sunday.

The officers involved are Cissy Mudhasi Kawuma, the Masaka Deputy Registrar, and Ruth Nabaasa, Chief Magistrate. The dismissals were confirmed in a statement from the JSC, citing abuse of judicial authority as the reason for their removal.

Mudhasi was accused of issuing orders for the attachment of accounts belonging to Makerere University, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council, and a private individual without following due process. She also reportedly defied instructions from the Chief Justice by continuing execution proceedings during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Nabaasa was dismissed for overstepping her jurisdiction by entertaining a matter that did not fall under her legal purview, which included ignoring orders from a High Court judge to determine property values to ascertain jurisdiction.

The dismissals follow a series of investigations into the conduct of judicial officers, with the JSC aiming to uphold the integrity and legal standards of the judiciary. In recent years, the commission has also taken actions against other judicial officers for similar reasons, reinforcing its commitment to judicial ethics and public trust in the judicial system.

These actions come amid broader efforts by Uganda’s judiciary to address corruption and misconduct, with several high-profile cases leading to dismissals or disciplinary actions in the past.

The JSC’s decision signals a strict stance against any form of judicial misconduct, aiming to ensure that justice in Uganda is administered fairly and in accordance with the law.

This development may allow for further investigations into related fraud allegations involving the dismissed officers, particularly concerning Mudhasi, who was previously under scrutiny for an alleged Shs3.5 billion fraud case related to Makerere University.

Whisper Eye efforts to pick a response was unavailable from either of the dismissed officers regarding the JSC’s decision.