KAMPALA – The Inspector General of Government, Justice Irene Mulyagonja, and Christopher Gashirabake, the Deputy Solicitor General, are among 24 people who have applied to be the judge of the Constitutional Court.
According to a list seen by this website, Justice Mulyagonja and Mr. Gashirabake are shortlisted alongside High Court Judge Lawrence Gidudu, the deputy head of the Commercial Division of the High Court, Justice Billy Kainamura, High Court Judge Rugadya Atwooki, former deputy IGG Raphael Baku, High Court Judges Henry Peter Adonyo, Henrietta Wolayo, and Damalie Lwanga Nantudde.
Others are Agasha Mugasha, Omoding Kenneth Paul, Ndikabona Batema, Elizabeth Henry Kaweesa, Jane Alividza, Kibedi Muzamiru Mutangula, Margaret Tibulya, Nabisinde Winfred Nyondo, Mugenyi Monica Kalyegira, Nkonge Nabbosa Agnes, Karoli Ssemwogerere, Jane Frances Kiggundu, Dennis Biryeije, Babyebuza, James K Byamukama, Lawrence Kamugisha and Apil Ekwang Josephine.
Justice Mulyagonja’s move could mean an end of seven-year tenure as IGG. Her application to join the Constitutional Court of Uganda, the second-highest judicial organ in Uganda, is believed to be in response to her growing frustration with the appointing authority in the fight against corruption.
The President has constantly accused the Inspectorate of Government of being infiltrated by corrupt individuals, which he said compelled him to appoint other anti-graft units, the latest of which is State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt Col. Edith Nakalema. However, the IGG views this as undermining her efforts.
President Museveni during the 9th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa last week said he didn’t appoint Col. Nakalema to fight the Inspector General of Government but rather help her fight corruption where she had failed.
“When we noticed the dangers corruption posed, we created new laws, new institutions like IGG, to fight the vice. But over time, the fire in them burnt out. Most likely they were infiltrated. That explains why I have to stoke the fire with new watchmen like the Anti-Corruption Unit to watch over the old watchmen,” Mr. Museveni said.
