Ugandan Judge Julia Sebutinde Appointed as Deputy President of the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice announced the appointment of Ugandan Judge Julia Sebutinde as the Deputy President for a three-year term. Sebutinde, who has been serving as a judge at the International Court of Justice since February 6, 2012, and previously worked as a judge at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, became known for her stance that contradicted the court’s decision regarding the condemnation of the State of Israel in a lawsuit filed by South Africa concerning Israel’s commitment to genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This position prompted the Ugandan government to clarify that Sebutinde’s statements represent her personal and independent opinion and do not reflect the stance of the Ugandan government in any way. Julia Sebutinde is the first Ugandan judge to hold a position at the International Court of Justice and has also worked in the Ugandan Ministry of Justice.