Legislators belonging to the Muslim faith yesterday petitioned the Speaker of Parliament protesting “discrimination and marginalization” in the appointment of the new judges and demanded that the planned vetting process be stopped until further notice.

Last week, President Museveni submitted a list of 28 new judges to the Speaker of Parliament for approval. In a petition presented to Ms Rebecca Kadaga by Parliament Imam Latif Ssebaggala (Kawempe North), the MPs complained that they responded to the advert by the Judicial Service Commission and their names were sent to the President only to be removed under unclear circumstances.

Citing Articles 21 (2) and 32(3) of the 1995 Constitution, Mr Ssebaggala said the marginalisation of Muslims in the appointment of the 28 judges offends the Constitution.

Sources close to the Speaker’s office told our source that Ms Kadaga is expected to forward the petition to the appointing authority and that the same merits and demerits of the petition will be discussed in the Appointments Committee.

But a senior official at Judicial Service Commission told our source that not more than three Muslims applied and the reason is that many Muslim lawyers are unwilling to leave private practice and work for Shs5m which is the salary for a judge.