In recent weeks, two prominent names have gained significant attention in Uganda’s political and judicial circles—Justice Musa Ssekaana, a controversial Court of Appeal judge, and Hon. Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). Both have become targets of an online smear campaign, with negative publicity being peddled against them through various blogs. Sources within Uganda’s political corridors have hinted at the underlying reasons for this sudden interest, especially in Wangadya.
The recent wave of smear campaigns against Wangadya seems linked to the ongoing competition for the Deputy Chief Justice position. After Dr. Flavian Zeija was elevated to the position of Chief Justice, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) began searching for a new Deputy Chief Justice. This has sparked intense lobbying, with many legal experts, senior judicial officers, and private lawyers eager to secure the high-profile position. Despite Justice Ssekaana and Wangadya not publicly declaring their interest, both are rumored to be strong contenders for the job.
Adding fuel to the fire, sources within the Muslim community have revealed that influential leaders from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the Kibuli-based Supreme Mufti leadership are lobbying for a Muslim lawyer to be appointed to the role. However, President Yoweri Museveni is reportedly focused on finding a candidate with a clean record, one who is not tainted by corruption allegations. This has created tension, as several potential candidates have been linked to corruption intelligence reports.
Wangadya, a former Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG) and a prominent human rights advocate, has emerged as a strong candidate due to her anti-corruption credentials and her current leadership of the UHRC. The president, reportedly, sees her as someone capable of helping clean up Uganda’s judiciary. However, her rise has led to a series of coordinated smear tactics, including the circulation of a whistleblower report accusing her of corruption. This report has been submitted to the IGG’s office, State House Anti-Corruption Unit, and the Police Criminal Investigation Department. It has also been widely shared among online media outlets, despite many waiting for investigations to proceed.
Why Wangadya?
Sources close to the matter have pointed out that Wangadya’s impressive work ethic sets her apart as a leading candidate for the Deputy Chief Justice position. She has been praised for her efforts in improving the Uganda Human Rights Commission Tribunal’s decision-making process, delivering an average of 20 decisions during a two-day sitting. In contrast, Court of Appeal judges are expected to deliver only 20 decisions over a period of four months. Her reputation for efficiency and diligence has earned her the favor of the president, who, according to some reports, prefers a female Deputy Chief Justice.
The president’s preference for a female DCJ stems from a comparison with the tenures of previous female deputy chief justices like Justice Alice Mpagi Bahegeine and Justice Constance Btamugisha. During their terms, Uganda’s appellate courts saw stronger jurisprudence, and their work gained international recognition. Critics argue that male DCJs have often deepened the divide between the Bar and the Bench, a rift that has grown to the point where, for the first time in Museveni’s 40-year leadership, the President of the Uganda Law Society was forced into exile. This has led some to believe that a female Deputy Chief Justice could help bridge this gap and restore balance.
In addition to her professional achievements, Wangadya has earned the ire of certain individuals due to her role in exposing corruption within Parliament. During the budget-making process, she helped reveal corruption syndicates that led to the arrest of several MPs, including Lwengo District Woman MP Cissy Namujju and Paul Akampa. Wangadya’s testimony in the matter resulted in the exposure of the corruption syndicates, though the charges were later dropped, which tarnished the government’s reputation in its fight against corruption.
Justice Musa Ssekaana
Justice Musa Ssekaana has also been thrust into the spotlight, largely due to speculation about his potential candidacy for Chief Justice. Many, particularly from the Muslim community, had hoped Ssekaana would become the first-ever Muslim Chief Justice of Uganda. However, his detractors have begun leaking negative reports about him to both the Judicial Service Commission and the appointing authorities. According to sources within the Dr. Douglas Singiza Commission, several of these complaints are now being fast-tracked for hearings before the appointment of the new Deputy Chief Justice.
Despite some leaders lobbying for a Muslim lawyer to be appointed, the Kibuli Muslim leadership is reportedly upset with Ssekaana for not recusing himself from the case involving Juma Zukuli, where they accused him of bias. His decisions in the case, which resulted in the imprisonment of Sheikh Khalifa Lutaaya and Sheikh Hassan Kinene on contempt charges, have not sat well with some factions within the Muslim community. Furthermore, Ssekaana has been criticized for his lack of tolerance toward social media critics and for becoming personally involved in disputes during court hearings.
The Deputy Chief Justice Appointment Process
Historically, President Museveni has appointed Deputy Chief Justices from among the justices of the Supreme Court, such as Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice Barishaki Cheborion, and Justice Egonda-Ntende, all of whom have hailed from the Court of Appeal. To qualify for the Deputy Chief Justice role, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in law, be serving as judges at the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, or High Court, or have been practicing law for at least 15 years.
Sources close to the president have revealed that he aims to make the appointment before the swearing-in of the next term of office, as he does not want any leadership vacuum within the judiciary. As part of his broader political agenda, Museveni has also instructed that local village leadership elections be concluded by May 2026, further emphasizing the need for swift decision-making.
As the race for the Deputy Chief Justice heats up, the ongoing smear campaigns and the political intrigue surrounding Wangadya and Ssekaana show just how fiercely contested this position is. With the president’s preference for a female candidate and a need for strong anti-corruption credentials, both Wangadya and Ssekaana are likely to remain at the center of Uganda’s political and judicial discourse in the coming weeks.
