{The President, who hinted on instituting a judicial inquiry to investigate these corruption claims among some lawyers who act like middle men between the judge and the corrupt, advised them to become born-again and stop the vice.}
President Museveni has said the traditional principle of an eye for an eye would stop the increasing cases of murder in the country.
Mr Museveni said the National Resistance (NRM) has been able to give peace to its citizens for the last 30 years because of the aforementioned Old Testament principles. The President was speaking at the 60th anniversary of Uganda Law Society (ULS) celebrations in Kampala on Friday.
“If you treasure your life, then why don’t you treasure that of others. The NRM, my dear lawyers, has been able to give you peace because of the principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” Mr Museveni told the lawyers.
He added: “ I will not support this impunity. You cannot kill people and just walk free. You lawyers are now mixing murder and premeditated murder, please, you are going to tempt people to take the law into their hands…”
Mr Museveni gave an example of how he, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the Justice minister, and others put on firing squad a soldier during the Bush War days for having killed someone.
The President also called upon them to equally take the cases of raping women and defiling children seriously.
The theme for the celebrations was “Rekindling ethical behaviour” .
Addressing the lawyers about the theme, President Museveni warned them to stop cheating their clients, especially those from villages who can’t speak English.
The President, who hinted on instituting a judicial inquiry to investigate these corruption claims among some lawyers who act like middle men between the judge and the corrupt, advised them to become born-again and stop the vice.
“ You find lawyers acting as brokers between the judges and the bribers. I know what is going on but I dont have enough facts and time. Of course a crime is a crime whether committed by a judge or lawyer, if there are facts, we just move in, arrest and put them in.” Mr Museveni sounded the stern warning
He likened the lawyers who cheat their clients to the unredeemable children who steal from their mothers.
The head of state also challenged the lawyers not to go after small cases like those of chicken thieves but think of operating in big spaces like how their counterparts do in the USA who are earning billions of dollars.
Speaking at the same function, Francis Gimara, the ULS president, said Mr Museveni had become allergic to lawyers because he had not met them in a long time.
In response, President Museveni instead said it was the lawyers who were dodging him.
The law society president also asked President Museveni to consider passing the legal aid Bill into law, help to revive the senior counsel scheme and also passing of the Judiciary administration Bill into law to give Judiciary it’s autonomy.
The ULS is an umbrella organisation that brings all 4,000 practicing lawyers in the country and give them one voice to assist government and courts of law in administration of justice.
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