The  swearing in ceremony of the ten new Judges who were appointed in the month of June 2010 took place  at the State house in Entebbe. It was attended by the Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki and his deputy, Lady Justice Leticia Mukasa Kikonyogo among other officials .

While speaking at the swearing in ceremony, His Excellency the President of Uganda Yoweri K. Museveni called on the Judiciary to always fast track the handling of serious cases such as murder, defilement, rape and terrorism before dealing with other civil matters.  The ten new judges of the High Court and one judge of the Court of Appeal who were appointed and sworn in, brings the total number of justices at the Court of Appeal to its full number of eight while that of judges in the High Court to 49.

President Museveni urged the newly appointed judges to try as much as possible to deliver justice to the people of Uganda adding that justice is one of the services the state provides to its people.‘’You must deliver justice because justice is one of the services the state extends to the citizens,’’ he noted.

The Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki commended the President and the NRM government for upholding the rule of law and urged the new judges to use the available resources economically, shun corruption, avoid delays, and improve access to justice.

The Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya urged the newly appointed judges to consider the oaths that they have taken seriously and always take into account the interests of the people they are serving.

The appointment of the new judges to the High Court bench is expected to ease pressure on the understaffed team and help reduce the case backlog. However, the retirement of seven judges this year, including Principal Judge James Ogoola and Justice Kikonyogo, may leave the burden of case backlog unresolved in the short-run. Before the appointment of the 10 judges, there were only 38 judges of the High Court, 35 chief magistrates, 110 Grade I magistrates and seven judges at the Court of Appeal.
Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya recently said that the government was planning to increase the number of judges at the Court of Appeal from seven to eleven and the Supreme Court judges shall also be increased from the current seven to fifteen.

The new High Court Judges that were sworn in are:

Hon Justice  Yasin Nyanzi
Hon Justice Andrew Bashaija
Hon Lady Justice Hellen Abulu Obura
Hon Lady Justice Catharine Bamugemereire
Hon Justice Mike J. Chibita
Hon Justice Christopher Madrama
Hon Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi
Hon Lady Justice Percy Night Tuhaise
Hon Justice Wilson Musene
Hon Justice Billy Kainamura

In the Month of June 2010, His Excellency the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed 10 new Judges who were approved by parliament, to the High Court. Among the appointed were, Dr. Andrew Bashaija, Mike Chibita, Christopher Madrama, Catherine Bamugemereire, Billy Kainamura, Wilson Musene, Yasin Nyanzi, Percy Night Tuhaise, Hellen Abulu Obura and Monica Mugenyi. In addition to the new appointees, he also promoted Lady Justice Mary Arach Amoko from Commercial Court to the Court of Appeal. 

PROFILES OF THE NEW JUDGES

Hon. Justice Andrew K. Bashaija, 47
Holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from Washington International University (USA). He also has a Master of Development Studies Degree and a Bachelor of Laws among other qualifications. He has over 18 years experience in legal, judicial and training fields. He had been a Senior Lecturer at Kampala International University, External Examiner at the Law Development Centre. He joined the Judiciary as a Grade One Magistrate in 1992 and rose to the level of Registrar in 2000. He is a Senior Partner with Pearl Advocates & Solicitors.

Hon. Justice Hellen Abulu Obura, 46
Has a Master of Business Administration Degree and a Bachelor of Laws from Dar-es-Salaam University and a Diploma in Legal Practice. She enrolled as an advocate in 1995. She worked at the Ministry of Justice as a State Attorney and rose to the rank of Senior State Attorney where she served till 2002. She has been acting Secretary of the Law Council department in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Hon. Justice Mike J. Chibita, 47
Has a Master of International and Company Law Degree in from the University of IOWA, USA. He also has a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Kampala. He has worked in both the Attorney General's Chambers and in State House. He has been the Executive Assistant of the Commissioner General's office of the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Hon. Justice Christopher Madrama, 48
He holds a Master of Women's Law Degree from the University of Zimbabwe and a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University.He enrolled as an advocate in 1991. He is currently a Principal Legal Associate with Katende, Ssempebwa & Company Advocates. He worked in the justice ministry for about 10 years, rising to the level of Principal State Attorney in 1999.

Hon. Justice Monica Mugenyi, 41
Has a Master of International Trade Law Degree from the University of Essex. He also has a Bachelor of Law degree from Makerere University. She has been in private practice as Legal Consultant with Mugenyi and Company Advocates. Mugenyi is also the Manager of Corporate Services at the Uganda Road Fund. She has worked in the Attorney General's Chambers, and in the Privatisation Unit.

Hon. Justice Percy Night Tuhaise, 50
Holds a Master of Law Degree and a Bachelor of Law degree from Makerere University. She is the Deputy Director of the Law Development Centre, Kampala. She also serves as vice-chairperson of the electricity disputes tribunal. Tuhaise served as commissioner, Uganda Law Reform Commission.

Hon. Justice Wilson Masalu Musene, 53
Holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University and enrolled as an advocate in 1983. He joined the bench as a Magistrate Grade One in 1983 and rose to the level of Chief Magistrate. He took leave and joined politics where he represented Manjiya County in the Constituent Assembly. He returned to the bench in 1995 as Chief Magistrate and later elevated to Registrar of the Courts of Judicature.

Hon. Justice Yasin Nyanzi, 48
Is a practicing advocate with Nyanzi, Kiboneka and Mbabazi Advocates. He holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University and Diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre. He enrolled as an advocate in 1991 and served under Public Service as a lands officer from 1989-1993.

Hon. Justice Billy Kainamura, 57
Has worked as State Attorney and rose through the ranks to become acting Solicitor General to date. He obtained a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University in 1976 and a Diploma from the Law Development Centre in 1977. He was enrolled as advocate in 1978.

Hon. Justice Catherine Bamugemereire,
She is an associate lecturer at the University of Surrey at Guildford UK, where she is pursuing a Doctorate of Law. She holds a Master of Law Degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA. She also has a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre, Kampala. She worked as a State Attorney before joining the bench as a Magistrate Grade One. She was promoted to Chief Magistrate at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri K. Museveni appointed Honorable Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi to head a judicial commission of inquiry meant to probe the weaknesses existing in the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs. The Members of the judicial commission of inquiry were sworn-in at the function which took place at the State House Entebbe and was witnessed by President Yoweri Museveni.  The function was also witnessed, among others, by the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, the Principal Judge His Lordship Justice Ogoola, State Minister for Primary Education, Mr. Bataringaya Kamanda, the Head of Public Service, Mr. John Mitala, the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Mrs. Amelia Kyambadde and other officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports.