In a move that has caught many in Uganda’s legal circles by surprise, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Lino Anguzu as the new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), replacing Justice Jane Frances Abodo, who was recently elevated to the position of Principal Judge.
Anguzu, who until his appointment served as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in charge of the International Crimes Department, was among the mid-ranking officers in the Office of the DPP with at least three superiors above him in the institution’s hierarchy: the DPP herself, three deputies, and the head of his own department.
The appointment therefore marks a notable departure from precedent, as President Museveni has traditionally chosen either senior judges or top-ranking prosecutors to head the DPP’s office a position that sits at the core of Uganda’s criminal justice system.
The Office of the DPP is responsible for instituting and conducting criminal prosecutions, directing police investigations, and ensuring that justice is served without fear or favor.
It is one of the most powerful constitutional offices, often handling politically sensitive or high-profile criminal matters.
While State House has not publicly explained the rationale behind Anguzu’s elevation, insiders in the justice sector describe him as a quiet but deeply competent career prosecutor with a strong track record in handling complex international crimes and terrorism-related cases.
“Lino is not a flashy man. He’s meticulous, disciplined, and knows the law inside out,” a senior prosecutor said.
“But of course, everyone is shocked because he was not among the most obvious choices.”
Born in the early 1980s, Anguzu joined the Office of the DPP as a State Attorney in 2005 and rose steadily through the ranks becoming Senior State Attorney (2011), Principal State Attorney (2014), and Assistant Director (2018). He heads the International Crimes Department, which has handled several sensitive cases, including those involving terrorism, war crimes, and transnational organised crime.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Anguzu’s appointment now awaits vetting by Parliament, after which he will take the oath of office before officially assuming his new role.
