Ugandan Judge Julia Sebutinde: Is Africa Paying the Price for Enslaving the Israelites?

 One of the most talked-about aspects of South Africa's case against Israel was the vote in favor of Israel by Ugandan Judge Julia Sebutinde, who holds the distinction of being the first African woman to sit on the bench of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

While all other judges on the ICJ panel voted in favor of six provisional measures—which ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide, punish them, and allow humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza—judge Julia Sebutinde opposed these measures, going even further than the other dissenting judge, Israel's own Aharon Barak, in her support for Israel.

Immediately following the judge's unexpected stance, Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, stated on X that the judge's decision did not represent the Ugandan government and reiterated Uganda's support for the Palestinian people.

However, a far more intriguing development followed: Judge Sebutinde was promoted and appointed as Vice-President of the International Court of Justice. She won over 50% of the votes in the secret ballot held to appoint the Court's President and Vice-President.

This promotion has led to questions not only about the credibility of the ICJ but also about the inconsistent behavior of its judges. The judges who ruled against Israel during the case exhibited a highly contradictory attitude by then voting to make a judge, who defended Israel more fervently than its own appointee, the Vice-President.

The Motivation: Christian Zionism

The reason behind the Ugandan judge's stance—opposing even humanitarian aid, contrary to all other judges—and her subsequent promotion with the votes of those very same colleagues, is the pervasive influence of Christian Zionism, which has infiltrated every institution.

As I detailed in a previous article titled "Christian Zionism as a New Colonial Project in Africa," Christian Zionism is now the common denominator uniting all institutions, individuals, and states that strive to legitimize Israel's massacre and support the establishment of a Greater Israel.

Judge Julia Sebutinde is a staunch Zionist affiliated with the Evangelical denomination. In this case, where she took a stance more pro-Israel than Israel itself, she is serving Zionism's fundamental principle: the protection of the Israeli state.

Sebutinde belongs to Uganda's famous Pentecostal Evangelical church, Watoto Church. [1]
In October, this church posted on its Instagram: "What an incredible opportunity we have to join the extension of God’s Kingdom in Israel. So many lives are being impacted as we partner with the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM), a global family of believers strengthening local ministries to transform lives in Israel with the love of Jesus."

The founding pastor of Uganda Covenant Nations Church shared a photo of Judge Sebutinde with the caption: 'Not all heroes wear capes. Julia Sebutinde took a historic stand at the International Court of Justice. May God always remember her mercifully and may Uganda as a nation always stand with God.'"

Following her stance, Sebutinde was also declared a hero by Zionist Jewish publications. Some praised her, comparing her to Rosa Parks. Indeed, she was promptly promoted thereafter.

Africa is Paying for Enslaving the Jews!

The question of whether Sebutinde's pro-Israel stance represents Uganda is somewhat complex.
A decade ago, an estimated 30% of Christians in Uganda (who make up 85% of the population) were involved in Evangelical movements, and that number is likely much higher now. [2]

In 2019, Janet Museveni, the wife of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, shared a post on social media addressing the nation.
In her letter titled "To all Ugandan children who choose to call me Maama," Janet Museveni wrote:
"The Bible informs us that the fortune of the Israelites, who first went to Egypt as guests or as refugees fleeing famine, soon changed and they became slaves of Egypt for 400 years. Africa committed a great sin by enslaving the Israelites for 400 years and this sin has haunted the African continent through the emergence of the devilish trans-Atlantic slave trade. This year 2019, is the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first African slaves in America and the subsequent exploitation of Africans. This anniversary is a milestone in our history and a time to pray, reflect and show resolute determination as we look to the future." [3]

The highlighting of a Black female judge with a doctorate in Human Rights in this case, and the consistent presence of Black figures in votes for decisions announced in favor of Israel on behalf of America, is no coincidence. Through these deliberate choices, could Christian Zionism be making Africans pay the very "price" Janet Museveni spoke of?

Uganda's Inconsistent Stance

Adding to the confusion is the fact that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for 38 years, took a stance directly opposite to that of Judge Sebutinde during the same period at the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). [4]

The 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, comprised of neutral countries, was held in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
At the summit, Israel's illegal military attacks on the Gaza Strip were condemned, and a call was made for a permanent humanitarian ceasefire.

Museveni, who will chair the Non-Aligned Movement for the next three years, stated:
"We must do our best to prevent this war (between Israel and Palestine) from spreading to other regions. The non-acceptance of the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and the pressure on the Palestinian people is unacceptable. The right of the Palestinian people to have their own state must be recognized by everyone."

Although Museveni has recently attempted to display a stance alongside the Palestinian people, it is difficult to say he has taken a clear position against Israel. It is well known that throughout his tenure, Museveni has maintained good relations with Israel, particularly cooperating in the fields of agriculture and technology.

However, at this point, the issue transcends whether the Ugandan judge represents Uganda. We must ask who the force is that secured the appointment of this pro-Israel judge as "Vice-President" with the votes of more than half of the other judges, what the International Court of Justice—whose judges acted one way during the case and another during the presidency vote—truly represents, and what consequences this controversial appointment will have in the future.

Sources:
1 https://observer.ug/index.php/viewpoint/80487-for-the-bible-tells-me-so-judge-sebutinde-the-s-africa-israel-dispute-part-ii
2 https://joshuaproject.net/countries/ug
3 https://www.facebook.com/JanetKMuseveni/posts/a-letter-to-all-ugandan-children-who-call-me-maama-by-choicethe-bible-informs-us/1090434337818863/
4 https://www.dawn.com/news/1809428

  This article was originially published in Independent Türkçe, on February 21, 2024.

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