The judiciary has reacted to latest incident in which a High Court Judge and his subordinates in Soroti City received death threats in a letter sealed with gun bullets.

Justice Peter Henry Adonyo, the resident Judge of High court received a horrifying letter on on June 20, 2022, that was received by staff Soroti High Court in a suspicious wrapping.The letter was directly threatening the resident Judge, Assistant Registrar, Counsel and Plaintiffs in an ongoing court case under police investigations.

Judiciary spokesperson Jameson Karemani says the concerned parties have since reported the matter to the area police and investigations have commenced. He has however condemned the incident and has warned that all those involved be brought to justice.

“This act of cowardice is an unwarranted indirect affront on the independence of the judiciary which is protected by the constitution of the republic of Uganda. Article 126 of the constitution provides that no person or authority shall interfere with the courts or judicial officers in the exercise of their duties” Karemani said

Karemani has also advised anyone aggrieved in the ongoing court case to appeal the matter matters in court to appeal instead of threatening death.

“The law is very clear and provides that any aggrieved party who is not contented with any ruling can appeal,” He said
Justice Adnonyo is not the first victim of death threats in the justice system. Others include; High Court , family Division Judge David Matovu, Buganda Road Court Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu,Moses Kule the Rukungiri Chief Magistrate.

The Principal Judge Flavian Zeija escaped an attempted assassination using an improvised explosive device IED on his way to Kampala from Masaka.

A principal Judge was attacked at Buwama Town Council in Kalandazi in Mpigi district while on his to Kampala from a private visit. Police stated that the attack was not targeted at the Principal Judge as perceived by many but a random experiment by suspected terrorists.

On March 30, 2015, a senior state prosecutor at the Directorate Public Prosecution (DPP) Joan Magezi was gunned down at Kiwatule on her way home.