The Judiciary has issued a strong statement to address the spread of false information on social media. The statement, dated October 31, 2023, refutes claims that a suspended lawyer, Irene Laker Nyafwono, is associated with the institution.
According to James Ereemye, the spokesperson for the Judiciary, there have been reports on social media suggesting that Nyafwono, an advocate who recently faced suspension by the Law Council due to professional misconduct, is a judicial officer. Ereemye stated that these reports should be disregarded, emphasizing that Nyafwono has never been appointed as a judicial officer. Instead, she is an enrolled advocate subject to the disciplinary mechanisms of the Law Council, distinct from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The JSC, a constitutional body established under Article 146 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, is responsible for recruiting judicial officers and regulating their conduct. Nyafwono’s suspension is a result of the disciplinary proceedings of the Law Council, Ereemye clarified.
On September 14, 2023, the Law Council suspended Nyafwono from legal practice for one year following complaints of professional misconduct filed by the Attorney General. In response to the suspension, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Sarah Langa Siu, instructed all courts of law to enforce the restrictions on the suspended advocate. This means that advocates suspended from practice are not allowed to appear in court or represent clients.
The Law Council serves as the overarching regulatory authority for the entire legal profession and legal aid service providers in Uganda.