The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lino Anguzu, has hailed retiring Court of Appeal justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende for transforming Uganda’s constitutional and criminal justice system through landmark rulings that strengthened human rights, legality and judicial accountability.
Speaking during a special sitting of the Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court held on Thursday at the Court of Appeal Building in Kampala, Anguzu described Justice Egonda-Ntende as a fearless defender of liberty whose jurisprudence reshaped constitutional governance and prosecution standards in Uganda.
The special sitting was convened to honour Justice Egonda-Ntende upon his retirement and attracted judicial officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, senior advocates, legal scholars, civil society representatives and retired judges.
Anguzu said Justice Egonda-Ntende consistently demonstrated throughout his career that the Constitution must be actively protected through independent and courageous judicial action.
“The Constitution is not a symbolic political document, but a living charter of liberty demanding active judicial protection through courage, independence and fidelity to justice,” Anguzu said.
The DPP credited the retiring judge with establishing important legal principles against oppressive delays in criminal trials and abuse of court processes.
He said Justice Egonda-Ntende’s decisions strengthened safeguards against torture and unlawful investigative practices while promoting fairness, proportionality and legality in prosecutions and sentencing.
Anguzu noted that the judge’s jurisprudence changed the approach of prosecutors by emphasising that justice is not measured only by convictions secured, but by fairness and constitutional legitimacy in the conduct of prosecutions.
“The jurisprudence fundamentally altered prosecutorial consciousness by reminding prosecutors that justice is not measured merely by convictions secured, but by the integrity, fairness and constitutional legitimacy with which prosecutions are conducted,” he said.
The DPP also praised Justice Egonda-Ntende for influencing Uganda’s bail jurisprudence by defending the constitutional presumption of innocence and cautioning against excessive remand practices and hostility towards bail rights.
He said the judge nonetheless maintained a balance between liberty and accountability by upholding convictions and severe punishment in deserving cases while ensuring sentences remained lawful and proportionate.
Anguzu said Uganda’s criminal justice system had become stronger because of Justice Egonda-Ntende’s contribution to constitutional accountability, human rights compliance and institutional commitment to the rule of law.
“Great judges do more than decide cases. They shape national conscience, redefine institutional culture and leave behind principles that outlive generations,” Anguzu said.
He added that Justice Egonda-Ntende ranks among Uganda’s greatest constitutional jurists because of the enduring impact of his decisions on the country’s legal system.