Supreme Court of Uganda Justice Esther Kisaakye Monday petitioned the Constitutional Court of Uganda seeking inter alia to be reinstated on the payroll and permitted to deliver her judgment on the 2021 presidential election.

Kisaakye filed the petition against Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, Judiciary Permanent Secretary Dr. Pius Bigirimana, Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature Sarah Langa Siu and the Commissioner of Human Resources in Uganda’s Judiciary Apophia Tumwine. The petition states that Kisaakye took part in the 2021 presidential election petition proceedings and was set to deliver her final judgment on the matter. But, before she could do so, the tent which was being used as the courtroom was closed, media persons and people were barred from the entering the premises and the files of the petitioner were confiscated by armed police officers on the direction of Owiny-Dollo.

The petition argues that these actions contravened her independence as a judicial officer as enshrined in Articles 129 (2), 133 (1) and 144 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda, among other provisions.

After the actions surrounding Kisaakye’s final judgment, the Judicial Service Commission of Uganda commenced investigations against Kisaakye. Kisaakye alleges that the investigations were disguised as a general inquiry and were conducted without due procedure, including the failure to consult Kisaakye.

Besides the unlawful investigations, the petition alleges that Kisaakye was denied funds for medical treatment. Kisaakye also claims Owiny-Dollo failed to recognize her seniority at the Supreme Court, and denied her leave, among other irregular actions perpetuated against her which resulted in pain, mental anguish and untold suffering.

Kisaakye ends her petition by requesting several orders from the Constitutional Court, including that she be reinstated as the Administrative Justice of the Supreme Court and included in the duty rosters, cause lists and allocated work at the Supreme Court. She also requests the court to quash the decision of the Owiny-Dollo, which deprived her of her assistants, and seeks damages for the pain, suffering and mental anguish imputed on her by the listed parties.