Newly appointed Magistrate Arrested For Disguising As Woman To Write Exams For His Girlfriend

The Judiciary in Uganda has revoked the appointment of a Magistrate after he reportedly disguised as a woman to write an examination for his girlfriend.

The culprit, Ammaari Musa Semwogerere, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, after he was caught red-handed sitting for a law examination on behalf of his alleged girlfriend, a Bar Court student simply identified as Irene Mutonyi.

The newly appointed Magistrate was nabbed at the Law Development Centre (LDC) Lira Campus.

Reports revealed that Semwogerere was promoted by the Judicial Service Commission to the position of Magistrate Grade One on probation two weeks ago.

Authorities at the campus, however, condemned Semwogerere’s act and reported the matter to the police and the suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of forgery and a count of impersonation.

Naija News understands that the accused was made to appear before the Lira Chief Magistrate on Friday, July 28, where he was subsequently remanded to prison till August 3, 2023, for further hearing of the case.

Uganda’s LDC director, Frank Nigel Othembi, in a statement obtained by journalists, said Semwogerere’s offence was in contravention of Section 351 of the Penal Code Act and Impersonation contrary to Section 381 of the Penal Code Act.

Following the incident, the Judiciary issued a statement terminating Semwogerere’s new appointment.

The official letter reads: “The Judiciary would like to inform the general public that Mr Semwogerere Ammaari Musa, one of the newly recruited Magistrates, will not be employed into the Judiciary Service.

“Mr Semwogerere Ammaari Musa was appointed a Judicial Officer on June 12, 2023, but the Judicial Service Commission, alongside 86 other persons to the position of Magistrate Grade One, was on probation.

“According to the Chief Registrar, Her Worship Sarah Langa Siu, the Judiciary is finalizing the appointment process of the said officers, after which they will be sworn in. She added that among the core principles in the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers is integrity, a bedrock to the proper discharge of the Judicial officer.

“Earlier today, Mr Semwogerere was remanded to Lira Main Prison, having been charged at the Lira Chief Magistrates Court on two counts of uttering a false document contrary to Section 351 of the Penal Code of Act and Impersonation contrary to Section 381 of the Penal Code Act.

“The Judiciary reiterates its commitment to upholding its core values of independence, impartiality, transparency, professionalism, integrity, and accountability,” Uganda’s judiciary letter reads in full.