The judiciary spokesperson, Vikitoria Hango, says the Judicial Service Commission is "unable to provide the requested information" regarding the timeline for recruiting the Prosecutor General.

Hango's response follows NBC News' request for clarity on whether the commission has a set timeframe for concluding the recruitment process and whether it is likely to be completed before the acting term of Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa ends on 31 December.

NBC News also asked whether Imalwa's acting appointment would automatically be extended should the recruitment process remain incomplete by the end of her current term.

"The Judicial Service Commission is unable to provide the requested information," Hango said in response to the follow-up questions.

The JSC announced this week that it would restart the recruitment process for the next Prosecutor General after all eight shortlisted candidates failed to meet the minimum requirements in a written assessment.

Seasoned legal minds formed part of the shortlisted candidates, and the commission said the highest score achieved in the examination was 49%, while the lowest was 30%.

After reviewing the results, the commission concluded that none of the candidates demonstrated the level of legal knowledge and competence required for the position.

The JSC said in its statement, "The Commission seeks candidates with a strong understanding of legal principles, prosecutorial functions, and criminal justice processes."

Applications for the position will close on 31 July.