Justice Bart Katurebe M. has retired as the Chief Justice. Today marks the last day in office for Chief Justice Bart Katureebe as he clocks the retirement age of 70 years.
Justice Bart Katurebe has held this position for five years, after being appointed in March 2015 replacing Justice Benjamin Josses odoki who had been the longest serving Chief Justice after holding the position from 2001 to 2013, and serving an extension of three months.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all collectively and individually for the cooperation and support you have rendered to me, and the judiciary as an institution during my tenure in office. it has been a great honor and privilege to work with you all,” Justice Katurebe said on Friday.
He added that since his replacement has not yet been appointed, he would on Monday handover the office to his deputy Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo who will be the acting Chief Justice until someone else is appointed by the President.
“The Deputy Chief Justice will be acting from Sunday, because I technically leave on Saturday 20th June – Midnight. After that, I will not be able to sign anything as Chief Justice,” Justice Katurebe said.
He is one of the few Ugandans to have served in all the three arms of the government; Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. He served as minister in various dockets, including Foreign Affairs, Justice/Attorney General and Health. He also represented the people of Bunyaruguru County in the Constituent Assembly in 1994.
It was during Justice Katureebe’s reign that the Judiciary installed a video conferencing system at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and at Luzira maximum security prison to facilitate the hearing of some cases where a suspect does not physically appear before court. The innovation is aimed at reducing on costs of transportation of inmates from prison to court and also reduce the security risks involved.
Also during his reign, the Judiciary started installing the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), an innovation that is aimed at helping litigants to easily access court services by reducing corruption.
It is also during Justice Katureebe’s tenure that the Judiciary embarked on the construction of a seven-storied twin tower that will house the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. The building, will cost about Shs63.9b, was started last year and is expected to be completed in two years’ time. The building will save the Judiciary Shs6b in rent annually.
Justice Katureebe also successfully lobbied government to increase the monthly salary of judicial officers. Salaries of all judicial officers have since been doubled, with a High Court judge earning a monthly salary of Shs23m, up from Shs17.55m.
Justice Katureebe can also retire a happy man following the recent passing of the Administration of the Judiciary Bill. The Bill, once assented to by the President, will, among others, see the Chief Justice and his deputy retire with 100 per cent of their monthly salary. The rest of the judicial officers would retire with at least 80 per cent of their monthly salary. The new law is also aimed at making the Judiciary independent and self-accounting.
The Judiciary has organised a small handover party slated for Monday 22nd June
Additional Information: Daily Monitor