The Principal Judge of Uganda Dr Flavian Zeija has survived an assassination attempt.

This has been revealed by the Judiciary Public Relations Officer Jamson Karemani on Sunday.

According to Karemani, the gun attack on Dr Zeija occurred on Saturday evening at about 7pm along Kampala-Masaka Highway when unknown gunmen shot at his convoy.

“The Judiciary has learnt with dismay of a gun attack on the Hon. the Principal Judge Dr Flavian Zeja, that occurred on Saturday evening at about 7:00pm along the Kampala-Masaka highway, when unknown gunmen shot at his convoy,” Mr. Jamson Karemani, the Judiciary Public Relations Officer said in a statement.

Karemani said the Principal Judge and his entire team escaped unhurt from the incident.

“Thankfully, the Principal Judge and his entire team escaped unhurt from the incident,” Karemani added in a statement.

“The Judiciary condemns in the strongest terms such barbaric conduct whose intentions are only known to those who engage in such acts of unlawfulness. This was an act of cowardice and we are confident that the perpetrators shall at an appropriate time be brought to book,” Karemani said.

Karemani further implored members of the public to remain calm as the responsible authorities and institutions undertake their investigative role.

“We shall keep the public updated on any new developments as and when they come in, where necessary.”

Dr. Flavian Zeija, a lawyer, academic and judge, on the High Court of Uganda, became the country’s Principal Judge on 25 December 2019.

A Principal Judge is responsible for supervising the justices of the High Court, including the assignment of duties to members of the Court. The Principal Judge is also responsible for supervising the Magistrates Courts below the High Court.

The Principal Judge is the third in the hierarchy of the Judiciary after Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice.

Uganda Police Force has since commenced investigations into the incident.