Who is Bart Katureebe the new Chief Justice?

Mar 05, 2015

Bart Magunda Katureebe has been appointed new Chief Justice, finally replacing Benjamin Odoki

By Vision Reporter

Bart Magunda Katureebe, 64, has been appointed new Chief Justice, finally replacing Benjamin Odoki. Up to his appointment, Katureebe has been a Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda.

His appointment brings an end to the confusion and suspense that has surrounded the position since the retirement, and controversial reappointment of former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki.

In August 2013 President Museveni reappointed Odoki on the advice of the former Attorney General Peter Nyombi.

Nyombi advised that there were constitutional provisions, which allowed the appointing authority to appoint people aged 70 years and above.

However the Constitutional Court a year later ruled that the re-appointment of Odoki was unconstitutional.

Justices Solomy Balungi Bossa, Remmy Kasule Lilian Tibatemwa and Eldad Mwanguhya ruled that the 1995 constitution did not provide for such reappointment.

Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma has been acting Chief Justice since then.

As Chief Justice, Katurebe heads the Supreme Court assisted by seven Justices, and the Judiciary.

PROFILE

1974: Bart Magunda Katureebe obtained his Bachelor of Laws Degree from Makerere University, Kampala and started working as a state Attorney in the ministry of justice the following year.

1983: Joined private practice until 1988 when he was appointed Deputy Minister for Regional Cooperation.

1991-1992: Deputy minister of industry and technology

1992-1996 State minister for health and a member of the National Resistance Council

1994-1995: Elected member of the Constituent Assembly representing Bunyaruguru County

1996-2001: Appointed minister of justice and constitutional affairs and Attorney General. As AG, he represented Uganda at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands where the Democratic Republic of Congo dragged Uganda for plundering its natural resources

2001: Joined private legal practice and started a law firm, Kampala Associated Advocates.

2005: Appointed Supreme Court judge. He also was chairman board of directors of New Vision Printing and Publishing Company Ltd, Director with Standard Chartered Bank, and a Director National Insurance Corporation.

2015: Appointed Chief Justice

Timeline of Events

See letter of the President to the Speaker below

Appointment of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice 2 March 2015_____

Who is Justice Kavuma?

Kavuma is well remembered as a state minister for defence.

He has been the acting Chief Justice since April 2013 when Justice Benjamin Odoki left office.

Prior to this, Kavuma was the acting Deputy Chief Justice, a position he acquired after the then substantive Deputy Chief Justice Constance Byamugisha passed on.

Kavuma has handled several cases including the one of the NRM expelled MPs. In April 2009, Justice Kavuma suspended the Court Martial cases against the late former army commander James Kazini, pending the disposal of his petition challenging the constitutionality of his trial by the army court.

Kazini was being accused of disobeying orders of the Commander-in-Chief on deployment of troops.

He is most remembered for bringing to a halt Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s celebrations after the High Court cancelled his removal from office.

Justice Kavuma did freeze the High Court orders the very day Lukwago returned to work, and did so exparte (listening to only one side).

2009 - Reduce Makerere LDC intake says Katureebe

2006 - Besigye suffers setback in polls petition