The soft side to Judge Ogoola
Jul 08, 2009
We stood on the terrain next to the newly constructed and to-be-commissioned “England house†at Kings College Budo.
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
We stood on the terrain next to the newly constructed and to-be-commissioned “England house†at Kings College Budo.
Justice James Munange Ogoola, was clad in a light suit. When he learnt I was a journalist, he uttered a few words which he thought I should note down. The Old Budonian and former resident of the school’s “Ghana House†offered to write in my notebook, perhaps to ensure I quoted him right.
I met the principle judge again last week, inside the confines of his office at the high court premises in Kampala. “Do you have a recorder?†he asked.
When I said I did not, he thought he should answer my questions slowly and carefully.
I was seated before a pristine, particular and deliberate fellow who never leaves anything to chance. I could see this as much in his neat, short graying hair, spotless white shirt and nicely fitting grey trousers as in his manner.
“Where do you want us to have the interview?†he asked, and when I suggested the leather chairs facing his desk, he said “Those are for lawyers…â€
Justice Ogoola is the author of an uplifting anthology of poems. His book entitled “Songs of paradise; A harvest of Poetry and Verse,†comprises 52 poems. The book was launched on Friday, July 3 at the Serena Hotel Kampala .
Bishop Desmond Tutu, retired Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel laureate described it as “brimful of relevance and cultural richness.â€
Professor Timothy Wangusa, a professor of literature at Uganda Christian University Mukono called it “a truly sample harvest that the human mind and spirit are capable of attaining and celebrating.â€
Ogoola’s work appears under six subtitles. It is a poignant take on the secular world delivered within a rich spiritual context laced with biblical allusions and powerful imagery.
According to Ogoola, “Behind every poem, underneath every chapter, below the entire story is a deeper meaning, a wider perception and a strong foundation presented to the reader.â€
Ogoola’s work betrays a latent creative aptitude, an expressive, passionate if softer side to a man better known for his tough stance on life’s issues.
As chairman of the judicial of inquiry into the mismanagement of the global funds for AIDS, TB he sharply critised some governement leaders
“That is a lie. You should stand your ground as a minister and bite the bullet,†he reportedly told a minister during the probe.
Ogoola’s love affair with writing goes back to his school days and his first job as a principal legislative draftsman in the late 60s and early 70s.
Born an only child in Lumino in Busia, Ogoola was raised by relatives. He was five when his mother Norah Natabona Akuku died.
“I grew up with all the hardships of a family of humble means and an education that my father could not afford. I had to rely on God and Good Samaritans like cousin Zeblon Obai.†He says his late uncle Yoweri Osudo, a church leader took custody of him and introducedhim to the love and grace of Christianity .
Ogoola has stood for noble values of truth, honesty, faith and hard work.
We stood on the terrain next to the newly constructed and to-be-commissioned “England house†at Kings College Budo.
Justice James Munange Ogoola, was clad in a light suit. When he learnt I was a journalist, he uttered a few words which he thought I should note down. The Old Budonian and former resident of the school’s “Ghana House†offered to write in my notebook, perhaps to ensure I quoted him right.
I met the principle judge again last week, inside the confines of his office at the high court premises in Kampala. “Do you have a recorder?†he asked.
When I said I did not, he thought he should answer my questions slowly and carefully.
I was seated before a pristine, particular and deliberate fellow who never leaves anything to chance. I could see this as much in his neat, short graying hair, spotless white shirt and nicely fitting grey trousers as in his manner.
“Where do you want us to have the interview?†he asked, and when I suggested the leather chairs facing his desk, he said “Those are for lawyers…â€
Justice Ogoola is the author of an uplifting anthology of poems. His book entitled “Songs of paradise; A harvest of Poetry and Verse,†comprises 52 poems. The book was launched on Friday, July 3 at the Serena Hotel Kampala .
Bishop Desmond Tutu, retired Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel laureate described it as “brimful of relevance and cultural richness.â€
Professor Timothy Wangusa, a professor of literature at Uganda Christian University Mukono called it “a truly sample harvest that the human mind and spirit are capable of attaining and celebrating.â€
Ogoola’s work appears under six subtitles. It is a poignant take on the secular world delivered within a rich spiritual context laced with biblical allusions and powerful imagery.
According to Ogoola, “Behind every poem, underneath every chapter, below the entire story is a deeper meaning, a wider perception and a strong foundation presented to the reader.â€
Ogoola’s work betrays a latent creative aptitude, an expressive, passionate if softer side to a man better known for his tough stance on life’s issues.
As chairman of the judicial of inquiry into the mismanagement of the global funds for AIDS, TB he sharply critised some governement leaders
“That is a lie. You should stand your ground as a minister and bite the bullet,†he reportedly told a minister during the probe.
Ogoola’s love affair with writing goes back to his school days and his first job as a principal legislative draftsman in the late 60s and early 70s.
Born an only child in Lumino in Busia, Ogoola was raised by relatives. He was five when his mother Norah Natabona Akuku died.
“I grew up with all the hardships of a family of humble means and an education that my father could not afford. I had to rely on God and Good Samaritans like cousin Zeblon Obai.†He says his late uncle Yoweri Osudo, a church leader took custody of him and introducedhim to the love and grace of Christianity .
Ogoola has stood for noble values of truth, honesty, faith and hard work.