The Family Division of the High Court in Kampala ruled on Tuesday that Stella Arach-Amoko, a former Supreme Court judge, should be buried at Jukiya Hill, Juba Village in Nebbi District, Uganda.
The decision of the court put an end to a legal battle between the deceased’s husband and children over her final resting place.
Justice Arach-Amoko died 10 days ago at the age of 69, but family misunderstandings delayed her burial.
Her children and siblings petitioned the court to stop the burial arrangements, arguing that her husband’s decision to bury the former judge at his home in Adjumani District was unconstitutional.
The applicants, who included the deceased’s children Ms Annet Yossa, Mr Emmanuel Komakech, and Ms Jackie Amoni, as well as her brother Godfrey Richo and sister Christine Onyok, claimed that before her death, Arach-Amoko publicly expressed her desire to be buried in Nebbi rather than Adjumani.
During the court session on Friday, the applicants’ lawyers raised ten grounds that the court should consider, including that there was consensus among Ambassador Amoko’s “blended family” for the burial venue to be Nebbi.
Other grounds include: the Ambassador’s alleged custom is inexistent, unproven, and repugnant, the custom alleged in support of the Nebbi venue is duly proven and valid, the Nebbi venue is supported by the deceased’s ascertainable wishes, Nebbi is appropriate for a dignified burial for the judge, the judges’ children and siblings are eligible applicants for the burial order sought, and the applicants are wholly blameless in how the dispute arose.
The Attorney General and Ambassador Amoko were the respondents in the case.
