Uganda distances itself from dissenting judge at ICJ

Uganda's government has said that an opinion written by a Ugandan judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dissenting from the panel's ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel does not reflect its own position.

Julia Sebutinde was the only judge on the 17-member panel who voted against all six measures adopted by the court, which included ordering Israel to take steps to prevent genocide and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

"The position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way reflect the position of the government of the republic of Uganda," the government said in a statement.

Kampala added that it supported the position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the war, which was adopted during a summit in the Ugandan capital.

The Non-Aligned Movement this month condemned Israel's military campaign and its killing of civilians, and called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid access.

Sebutinde was one of only two judges to issue dissenting judgements at The Hague earlier this week, while 15 others voted to adopt most of South Africa's interim demands. The other dissenting voice was Israeli judge Aharon Barak.