Chief Justice Bart Katureebe Hands Over Office to Owiny-Dollo

Outgoing Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has handed over his office to Justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo who will serve until President Museveni appoints a substantive head of the Judiciary.

The handover ceremony took place at the High Court in Kampala.

“There’s time for everything under the sun. Its time for me to go home,” Justice Katureebe said.

The Constitution demands that justices of the appellate courts (Supreme Court and Court of Appeal) retire at 70 years, High Court judges at 65 and magistrates and registrars at 60.

Justice Katureebe officially retired on Saturday after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 70.

In his parting words on Friday, which was his last day in office as Chief Justice, Mr Katureebe said he retires satisfied about the achievements he posted in his five-year tenure.

He boasted of having been behind the salary enhancement of judicial officers with now a High Court judge earning Shs23m from Shs9m at the time he was appointed the Judiciary head; the passing of the Administration of the Judiciary law, the commencement of the construction of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal twin-towers and the installation of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System.

He was, however, quick to say that more needs to be done particularly about case backlog reduction.

Mr Katureebe started his fulfilling legal career 45 years ago as a state attorney in the chambers of the Attorney General.

Candidates for the Chief Justice Job

some of the potential candidates for the job include; Justice Esther Kisaakye, Justice Stella Arach-Amoko, Justice Kenneth Kakuru, Justice Fredrick Egonda Ntende, Justice Richard Buteera, Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, and Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine.