March 10th, 2022, is the International Day of Women Judges. Pronounced by the UN last year, this second commemoration comes on the second day after International Women’s Day March 8. The day recognizes the crucial role of women in the judiciary in the quality of decision-making and helps to build trust. It basks in the adage that to achieve justice, we need more women in justice. Agnes Kyotalengerire writes about Justice Eva Luswata Kawuma.

Lady Justice Eva Luswata Kawuma is a judge at the Court of Appeal. 

Justice Kawuma is currently the chair, advisory board of the Law Development Center (LDC) pro bono legal education. 

She served in private legal practice in Kakooza & Kawuma Advocates for 20 years before joining High Court in 2013. 

During her tenure at High Court, she served at the Land Division and Jinja Circuit. She was also an external examiner at MUK law school and visiting lecturer in gender & human rights at the faculty of Social Sciences MUK.

Justice Kawuma is also a founder member of the Public Defender Association of Uganda which offered free legal defence and advice to indigent suspected offenders. 

She served as legal counsel at the International Criminal Court. Justice Kawuma is a mentor to young lawyers. 

Education background

Justice Kawuma attended Budo Junior School and Gayaza High School. She holds a Bachelors in Law from Makerere University (LLB MUK), a post graduate diploma in Women's Law from the University of Zimbabwe and a masters in Law (LLM) Human Rights from Pretoria University.