By Aggrey Baba
On January 18, 2026, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo will hang up his robe as he clocks the constitutional retirement age of 70. His exit will not only leave an empty chair at the head of the Supreme Court but will also open a contest that feels less like a legal appointment and more like a careful game of chess, with power, politics, and principle all at stake.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has already called for applications, with October 20 set as the deadline. After sifting through the contenders, the JSC will forward names to thePresident (YK Museveni) who will pick one candidate and send the name to Parliament for vetting. Behind this neat procedure lies a storm of speculation, of who among the top judges will replace Owiny-Dolo.
The list of possible successors include Dr. Flavian Zeija, the Deputy Chief Justice, seen as a steady administrator, having also served as Principal Judge. His reputation for calm leadership and experience at the helm puts him among the frontrunners.
Justice Mike Chibita, now at the Supreme Court, is remembered for his years as Director of Public Prosecutions. His prosecutorial edge and disciplined style could make him a strong contender, though some wonder if his past closeness to the executive will shadow his candidacy.
Then comes Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, a household name for her fearless probes into corruption and land wrangles. Admired for her toughness but sometimes criticized for being confrontational, she remains one of the bold reformist voices in the Judiciary.
Prof. Lilian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, a scholar with a PhD from Copenhagen, blends academic rigor with judicial experience. She is already one of the most respected female judges in the country and, if chosen, would become the first woman to lead Uganda’s Judiciary.
Justice Muzamir Kibeedi, the first Muslim to sit on the Supreme Court, brings over two decades of private practice and a reputation for sharp, reasoned judgments. His rise would add both experience and diversity to the court’s leadership.
Other names circling the succession race include Justice Monica Mugenyi, with her East African Court of Justice background, Justice Christopher Madrama Izama, praised for his commercial law depth, and Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, another intellectual heavyweight with years at the Commercial Court.
Dollo’s legacy
Since his appointment as a High Court judge in 2008 and eventual rise to Chief Justice in 2020, Owiny-Dollo has been seen as a steady hand during turbulent times. He oversaw reforms like digital hearings during COVID-19 and pushed for measures to reduce case backlogs.
But his record is also defined by moments of resistance. One of the sharpest was the Kabaziguruka case, in which the Supreme Court ruled against the trial of civilians in military courts. President Museveni openly disagreed with the judgment, but Owiny-Dollo stood by the decision, insisting that the court had spoken and that the law must hold. It was a moment that showed him not just as a custodian of procedure, but as a judge willing to let justice flow even when the political tide turned against him.
Still, his tenure was not without criticism. Case delays remain a sore wound in the Judiciary, and questions about political influence continue to dog the courts. Yet many credit him with keeping the Judiciary afloat in stormy waters, steering it like a captain who might not have charted new territory, but at least kept the boat from sinking.
The next Chief Justice will face enormous challenges, as the Judiciary remains clogged with backlogged cases. Many ordinary Ugandans still see the system as slow and expensive, and the shadow of politics often looms over court decisions.
Whoever steps into Dollo’s shoes must be both shield and sword, to protect the courts from political interference, and cut through corruption and inefficiency. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
