Justice Ogoola composes ‘Black Mamba’ poem
PRINCIPAL Judge Justice James Ogoola has composed a poem in commemoration of one year since state security operatives described as ‘Black Mambas’ wielding guns besieged the High Court during bail application of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and 14 suspected People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects.
By Apollo Mubiru
PRINCIPAL Judge Justice James Ogoola has composed a poem in commemoration of one year since state security operatives described as ‘Black Mambas’ wielding guns besieged the High Court during bail application of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and 14 suspected People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects.
Ogoola read out the 12-verse poem, ‘the Rape of the Temple’ at the launch of the Rule of Law Day organised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) at Kololo on Thursday. (See poem on Page 3).
ULS President Deo Nkuzingoma said the day was aimed at bringing together the Bar and the Bench to discuss developments in the country.
On November 16, 2005, about 30 security operatives in black T-shirts who were described as “Black Mambas†sealed off the High Court premises in Kampala in an attempt to re-arrest Forum for Democratic Change president Col. Besigye and the PRA suspects in case court released them on bail. Army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye said at the time that the men were part of a paramilitary squad set up by the army to fight terrorism.
The armed men in black, trained in martial arts, manned the court. Besigye has since been released. He is currently in the United Kingdom.
Ogoola was chief guest at the function attended by Deputy Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi, High Court Judge Remmy Kasule, the head of Commercial Court, Justice Fred Egonda Ntende and senior counsels.
Ogoola said the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary were twins that should be nurtured and guarded with extreme vigilance and jealousy.
He said twin brothers are extremely tender and delicate and should not be separated. “We cannot claim that the independence of the judiciary has taken root in Uganda. We must at all occasions remember and reflect on the viability and the efficiency of our judicial independence and the rule of law,†Ogoola said.
He defined the rule of law as the opposite of anarchy, turbulence, instability, the opposite of the rule of kifuba (force) and the opposite of the rule of the jungle.
Ogoola told lawyers including former Inspector General of Government Jotham Tumwesigye, former president Godfrey Binaisa, deputy IGG Raphael Baku and Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa that, “The country owes you, ULS, a heavy debt of gratitude in defending the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.â€
Ssempebwa, who moved a vote of thanks on behalf of the advocates, hailed Ogoola for the substance in the poem that reminded the legal fraternity to strive for the rule of law.
Ends
PRINCIPAL Judge Justice James Ogoola has composed a poem in commemoration of one year since state security operatives described as ‘Black Mambas’ wielding guns besieged the High Court during bail application of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and 14 suspected People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects.
Ogoola read out the 12-verse poem, ‘the Rape of the Temple’ at the launch of the Rule of Law Day organised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) at Kololo on Thursday. (See poem on Page 3).
ULS President Deo Nkuzingoma said the day was aimed at bringing together the Bar and the Bench to discuss developments in the country.
On November 16, 2005, about 30 security operatives in black T-shirts who were described as “Black Mambas†sealed off the High Court premises in Kampala in an attempt to re-arrest Forum for Democratic Change president Col. Besigye and the PRA suspects in case court released them on bail. Army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye said at the time that the men were part of a paramilitary squad set up by the army to fight terrorism.
The armed men in black, trained in martial arts, manned the court. Besigye has since been released. He is currently in the United Kingdom.
Ogoola was chief guest at the function attended by Deputy Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi, High Court Judge Remmy Kasule, the head of Commercial Court, Justice Fred Egonda Ntende and senior counsels.
Ogoola said the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary were twins that should be nurtured and guarded with extreme vigilance and jealousy.
He said twin brothers are extremely tender and delicate and should not be separated. “We cannot claim that the independence of the judiciary has taken root in Uganda. We must at all occasions remember and reflect on the viability and the efficiency of our judicial independence and the rule of law,†Ogoola said.
He defined the rule of law as the opposite of anarchy, turbulence, instability, the opposite of the rule of kifuba (force) and the opposite of the rule of the jungle.
Ogoola told lawyers including former Inspector General of Government Jotham Tumwesigye, former president Godfrey Binaisa, deputy IGG Raphael Baku and Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa that, “The country owes you, ULS, a heavy debt of gratitude in defending the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.â€
Ssempebwa, who moved a vote of thanks on behalf of the advocates, hailed Ogoola for the substance in the poem that reminded the legal fraternity to strive for the rule of law.
Ends