President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Lady Justice Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa as a substantive Judge of the High Court following advice from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and approval by Parliament.
The appointment was formally communicated following a prolonged period of uncertainty over her judicial career.
Bukirwa was among the pioneer judges appointed in September 2022 to serve in an acting capacity for two years, with the expectation that those who successfully completed the period would be confirmed substantively.
Her confirmation was delayed following controversy surrounding a case involving the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) that she handled while serving at the Jinja High Court. Some members of the Old Kampala-based Muslim faction reportedly objected to her rulings and handling of the matter, leading to an inquiry by the JSC.
The inquiry, however, found no evidence of wrongdoing or professional misconduct, and the JSC recommended her reinstatement. Her return to the bench was subsequently supported by Parliament following pressure from members of the legal profession and other stakeholders who questioned why she had been sanctioned despite carrying out her judicial responsibilities.
Bukirwa was later posted as Resident Judge at the Luweero High Court, where she served until the expiry of her two-year probationary period as an acting judge. Her substantive appointment has now restored her position on the High Court bench.
The announcement was widely welcomed by lawyers and court users in Jinja and Luweero, who described the appointment as long overdue. She has been praised for her people-centred approach, integrity, promptness, prudence and commitment to duty.
Professional Background
Before joining the judiciary, Bukirwa served for 12 years, from 2010 to 2022, as Principal Legal Officer at the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). She was deeply involved in litigation on behalf of the Council, corporate governance matters, election petitions, legislative development and the drafting of subsidiary legislation.
She participated in the development and amendment of legislation governing higher education, including work relating to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act. As Principal Legal Officer, she also served as Council Secretary, provided legal guidance to Council committees, prepared minutes and participated in top-level administration and management.
She also has a professional history with the Uganda Law Society, including service on its Rule of Law Committee.
Earlier in her career, Bukirwa worked as a paralegal at Lwere & Co. Advocates after completing her legal training.
She also gained international professional experience in the United Kingdom, including serving as Junior Company Secretary at Severnside Housing Association in Shrewsbury and at Christian Salveson, a major Birmingham-based logistics company.
Between 2004 and 2007, she worked as a junior administrator at Trident Housing Association in Birmingham. She also undertook sales consultancy work with Next Plc in Birmingham and participated in part-time social work in the UK, gaining broad administrative, commercial and professional experience.
Education and Professional Training
Justice Bukirwa attended Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga from 1992 to 1997 for her O-Level and A-Level education.
She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Makerere University’s School of Law in 2002, followed by a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC) in 2003.
In 2005, she completed the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators qualification at North East Worcestershire College, Bromsgrove, in the United Kingdom.
She later obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Commercial Law from the University of Birmingham in 2009 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU) in 2018.
Her professional development has also included specialised training in contract drafting and negotiations in Nairobi and the UK, Intellectual Property Rights in Thailand, Corporate Governance, Oil and Gas contracts, International Law and courtroom advocacy techniques.
Professional Membership and Additional Skills
Justice Bukirwa is a member of several professional organisations, including the Uganda Law Society, East African Law Society, Institute of Management Information Systems and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
She is also recognised as a scholarly writer and publisher, with referenced academic and professional works.
Bukirwa is among the relatively few Muslim judges on Uganda’s High Court bench and speaks English, Luganda, Swahili and conversational French.
Her extensive legal, judicial, administrative, corporate and international experience, coupled with her academic qualifications, has now culminated in her substantive appointment to the High Court.
At a relatively young age for the judiciary, Justice Bukirwa could potentially serve Uganda’s judicial system for many years, marking the latest chapter in a career that has already spanned legal practice, higher-education regulation, corporate administration and judicial service.
