Chief Justice Zeija Sworn In at Museveni’s Private Farm, Sparking Judicial Independence » The Hoima Post –

KAMPALA — Uganda’s newly appointed Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, was sworn into office on January 24, 2026, at President Yoweri Museveni’s private country farm in Kisozi, Gomba District—a venue choice that has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and civil society who warn it undermines the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

“This is unprecedented in Uganda’s constitutional history—and indeed, I have never seen in any country a Chief Justice sworn in at a president’s private farm,” said a senior legal analyst who requested anonymity due to security concerns. “The symbolism matters: when the head of the judiciary takes oath on the president’s private property, it visually reinforces perceptions of subordination rather than independence.”

Constitutional scholars note that Article 128 of Uganda’s 1995 Constitution guarantees judicial independence, stating that “in the exercise of his or her judicial functions, a judicial officer shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority.” Critics argue that venue choices carry significant symbolic weight in reinforcing—or eroding—this principle.

During the Kisozi ceremony, Museveni urged Zeija to maintain “zero tolerance to corruption” and reportedly instructed him to “ask the public who is corrupt”—remarks some lawyers interpreted as political guidance inappropriate for a judiciary meant to operate free from executive influence.

Government officials have not publicly explained the choice of venue. State House communications typically frame such events as expressions of the president’s “accessible leadership style,” though constitutional experts counter that accessibility should not come at the expense of institutional symbolism critical to democratic governance.

“This isn’t about the physical location itself,” said one human rights lawyer. “It’s about what the location communicates to citizens, to litigants, and to the world about where ultimate power resides. When the Chief Justice is inaugurated on the president’s farm—not in a courthouse—it sends a message that the judiciary exists at the president’s pleasure, not as a co-equal branch of government.”

As Uganda navigates post-election disputes and mounting pressure on civic space—including the recent suspension of seven human rights organizations days before voting—observers warn that perceived erosion of judicial independence could further undermine public confidence in democratic institutions at a critical juncture for the nation’s governance.

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