This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
On July 24, 2021, Chief Justice Martha Koome released a statement on her official Twitter handle, addressing the recent arrest of two high-profile judges, Justices Said Chitembwe and Aggrey Muchelule.
According to the statement, the Chief Justice was briefed by the judges after their release, but no formal report had been made to her as the Head of the Judiciary or the Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission.
She emphasized that the arrest should not cause any anxiety among judges and other Judiciary officers, stating, “I assure all judges and judicial officers that the independence of the Judiciary and their constitutional duties is protected by the Constitution. They should therefore continue discharging their duties without any fear in accordance with their oath of office.”
The Chief Justice also announced that she would wait for the investigations to be completed before making a full statement.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has explained the reasons behind the arrest of the two judges, stating that detectives are probing possible bribery involving the two high-profile judges and have rummaged through their offices in search of evidence.
The DCI further stated, “The said Judges cooperated with the investigating team, recorded their statements and left to continue with their duties. The investigations are ongoing. As soon as they are finalized, appropriate action will be taken in consultation with all the relevant agencies and authorities as provided by the law.”
