Humanist

Hello Ija, good morning and happy new week, Ajakait’s voice all cheery.

I wondered why she called me so early in the morning and I ask, how come you have called me early morning? She goes:

Ija, the second debate of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) candidates vying to be elected to represent ULS on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is today and I wanted to get this off my chest before then.

What is on your chest Ajakait, I ask. She goes:

Let me first tell you a story Ija.

Me, I think I am among those women Dr. Stella Nyanzi categorizes “women who challenge abusive power.” Women, such as I, who have zero tolerance for appointments into public office without merit and such appointees without merit abusing public offices to deliver injustices.

Ija, you will attest that this is pretty much among the major principles that define how I live?

Yes, Ajakait, but what has brought this on for you this morning?

Ija, let me finish, she interjects. I say okay and she goes:

It explains ija, why, like Okot P’ Bitek’s Lawino in his Song of Lawino, I will not shut up about injustices meted out against me by such. Every opportunity that I get I speak out and up, loud as I can, letting out a “war cry” to borrow the words of Dr. Nyanzi.

You see, this morning, Ija, I have watched and listened to a clip of James Onen (FATBOY) conversing with Dr. Nyanzi on the “impunity of police officer Will Clive Nsiima Barigye.”

You know, that one who slapped a shop attendant who insisted that he must pay for the condoms he had picked from the store and did not want to pay for them. Honestly, Ija, I was surprised at how seemingly accommodative Dr. Nyanzi was of officer Barigye. She spoke like a toto odwe (mother of twins) that she is.

She contextualized police officer Barigye’s criminality within the bigger picture of him being an alcoholic, likely brought about by his childhood trauma, regarding his parentage. Apparently, he was raised by a man who isn’t his biological father and DNA testing confirmed him of royal blood, something or rather.

So, he is kind of the “bastard son” of a royal. And from the conversation, I deduced that he either doesn’t feel accepted and or is not fully accepted by either family – of the man who raised him; nor of the man whose seed he came from.

How did this psychologically disturbed officer not on treatment for his mental ill-health end up in the Uganda Police Force?

How is it that this man with an alcohol problem is on the Uganda Police Force?

Many questions I have ija. Anyway, Dr. Nyanzi took all that into account and wished him treatment for his alcoholism and childhood trauma; power to be taken away from him; and he be tried via the criminal court system. Emphasis being that people want to see justice done against officer Barigye.

Ajakait, get to the point, what does this have to do with you in particular? She seems triggered and goes:

Now you see Ija. You have forgotten my woes with questionable police officers?

Police officers who refused to implement court orders given by a competent judge; the latter who set aside a dodgy ruling of an incompetent Deputy Registrar which aided a criminal, emboldening him to exhibit his deficient manhood, at least within Iteso central logic.

Blatantly, this narcistic criminal psychopath, who is seemingly aided by dodgy police officers, exhibits his envy of me and my success he will never attain. Hence, his inferiority complex displayed via gender-based violence towards me, attempting to grab my land and maliciously damaging my property.

I am aware of all that Ajakait, what is your point? She goes:

Okay Ija, when you get time, please remind yourself of my story and you will see the relevance.

Read “Dinosaur T-Rex enforcer of criminal justice,” a keynote address to ULS

The point I am making is that the incidence of police officer Barigye, should not be considered an outlier. Police misconduct is seemingly the norm and which is prevalent because police officers know that they are untouchable. As police officer Barigye boasted.

In that clip, Dr. Nyanzi and FATBOY mentioned there being a “Police Court” and disciplinary proceedings. They both did not specifically mention the Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU).

Ija, my understanding is that errant police officers, such as Barigye, are normally investigated by PSU, the findings forwarded to the Directorate of Legal within the Office of the Inspector General of Police, from whence appropriate action is taken.

It is done hush, hush, hush, and without the civilian complainant and or the general public getting to know. The next thing you hear the errant police officer who accosted you or who aided the criminal psychopath with deficient manhood to commit crime has been transferred and even promoted.

My point, Ija, which relates to the ULS debate today, is that until there are judicial officers in place, who hold the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) accountable, we will continue to have those bad apples in the Police Force.

Sadly, at the moment, we have a seeming significant number of judicial officers who accept dodgy evidence presented to them by police officers and ODPP, the basis on which the Bench make decisions and render rulings which Mr. Paul Mukiibi characterized “not even worth being on the law book.”

In fact, ija, just allow me to share more of what Mr. Mukiibi said during the first debate of ULS representatives to the JSC, the first of its kind:

“One of the issues I am addressing is poor judicial appointments. What criteria do we use? We are tired of having a Bench composed of husband, wife, concubines, children, relatives. Are we trying to convince that certain families are brighter – they are the only ones who should dominate the Bench? Transparency in appointments is key. We need to do away with darkness in appointments. Why should judges do their interviews in closed meetings? Closed doors, why? Come and tell us, the general public, we listen to you and we see whether you are competent or not. Why should we just get a communication that so and so qualified. Looking at the list of those who qualified, you feel like crying. How they qualified you can’t tell. Now they start rendering decisions, some decisions are not even worth being on the law book. We need public participation. This is a public office. We have a situation in Uganda where hardworking judges are sidelined and left at one level until they retire. Mediocre ones, who make decisions that are not worth reporting, are ever being promoted. What are the performance indicators they are using to determine promotions in the Bench?” Mr. Paul Mukiibi, the Chain Breaker, Candidate for ULS Representative at the JSC.

Ija, you know I have lived experience of such judicial officers Mr. Mukiibi describes. In fact, for me, on reading the dodgy decision “not even worth being in the law book,” I cried loud. I wailed like that woman who was slapped by police officer Barigye. I let out a war cry so loud.

After which, within the spirit of the principles on which I live, transparency and accountability of duty bearers, I put on my war armor and with the help of my ace legal team, members of the ULS, I fought back.

Ija, you know what happened. The appellant judge, while setting it aside, characterized the decisions and ruling of that ‘Learned Deputy Registrar’ as “appalling to say the least.”

How did he who renders decisions and rulings “appalling to say the least” end up as a Deputy Registrar and now holding a high ranking position in the judiciary? On what merit system was he appointed jurist and promoted rapidly?

Anyway, Ija, if I could vote in the ULS elections, I would most definitely vote for Mr. Mukiibi, for his manifesto speaks to me directly. He would be my very first choice.

I am delighted to hear that powerful learned women, such as Dr. Sarah Bireete and Ms. Lillian Amarie Drabo, whom I revere have overtly expressed their intention to vote for him. I pray many more members of ULS vote Mr. Mukiibi to represent them and us the public in the JSC.

Okay Ajakait, thank you for calling and wishing me a happy week. I need to get ready for work now. Have a blessed week to you too. From the tone of her voice I sense she is pleased and she confirms it with a thank you Ija.