NO CHOICE BUT TO QUIT: Pro-Bobi Wine Supreme Court Judge Kisaakye RESIGNS after War of Words with Pius Bigirimana over Withheld Salary

Justice Esther Kisaakye, a Supreme Court judge who ruled in favor of National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in the 2021 presidential election petition, has resigned her job.

About a year ago, Justice Kisaakye and Pius Bigirimana, the Secretary and Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary, were involved in a war of words after the PS insisted that the judge must offer him explanation on why she had been away from duty for many months.

Bigirimana also insisted on withholding Kisaakye’s salary until she had offered explanation on why she had been absent.

Now, after many months of the war of words, Justice Kisaakye has decided to quit her job. Kisaakye, aged 63, has sought early retirement from the judiciary.

Appointed to the bench of the highest court in the land on October 12, 2009, Kisaakye has been at the Supreme Court for nearly 14 years.

But on July 18, she wrote to President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni informing him of her decision to take early retirement from the judiciary.

“Article 144 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda permits a judicial officer to retire at any time after attaining the age of sixty years. I am now aged 63 years. In accordance with the said article, I hereby tender in my early retirement from the Supreme Court,” wrote Kisaakye in her letter copied to Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Judicial Service Commission Chairperson, PS Bigirimana and lawyer Peter Walubiri of KBW Advocates.

“I thank you and the people of Uganda for having given me the opportunity to serve my country as a justice of the Supreme Court.”

The trouble between Justice Kisaakye and Bigirimana started after the Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary wrote to the Supreme Court judge ordering her to explain why she was away for months after the end of her sick leave or forget about her salary. (Read Story Here).

The fearless Justice Kisaakye fired back at Bigirimana, clearly telling him that she – with her PhD in law and has more experience in legal matters – understands the law better than him. (Read Justice Kisaakye’s response HERE).

Justice Esther Kisaakye has also been the most experienced judge of Uganda’s Supreme Court, even more experienced than Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo himself. (Read Her Profile Here).

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