Newly appointed Chief Justice Bart Katureebe was on Friday morning sworn in by President Museveni at Entebbe State House, bringing the whole recruitment and appointment process to a completion.
Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma was too sworn in. Still at the same function, the President also administered oath to the six new appointed cabinet ministers.
They included; Rtd Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi (Information), Ms Evelyn Anite (Youth), Mr David Bahati (Planning), Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Health); Mr Philemon Mateke (Regional Cooperation) and Mr Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja (Agriculture).
Similarly, the old ministers who were reassigned; just had a hand shake with the President. They include; Fredrick Ruhindi (attorney general), Matia Kasaija (Finance)and deputy attorney general Rukutana Mwesigwa; just had a hand shake with the President since they are not new appointees but were reassigned.
According to the President, the swearing in of the Chief Justice and deputy, two years after the country went without them, makes the government now fully constituted.
To that effect, the President in his remarks said the government protocol of the President being number one, Vice President being number two, Speaker of Parliament being number three, Chief Justice being number four, Deputy Speaker being number five and the Prime minister being number six is now fully constituted and that they should commence work seriously.
Further in his brief remarks, the President reechoed to judges the need to handle with care serious crimes like murder, rape, defilement and economic sabotage.
The President warned that country risks being destabilized if the judicial officers handle hard core with soft gloves by releasing them on bail before their spent the 180 days on remand as mandated by law.
Turning to the newly appointed ministers, the President cautioned them from being slow in executing their work. He challenged the new ministers by giving an example of the hustle that is involved in getting a business license by investors that he said takes 32 days in Uganda and yet in Rwanda and Canada, the process takes only two days.
The President early this month appointed Justice Katureebe and Kavuma as Chief Justice and Deputy respectively; two years after the same positions were vacant.
Justice Kavuma was acting in both positions.
The ministers were also appointed early this month.
The ceremony was witnessed by acting Chief Registrar of Courts of judicature Mr Isaac Muwata and the head of public service Mr John Mitala.
With the swearing in of the new appointees, they can now assume work though some may need to hand over before officially commencing work.
