President Yoweri Museveni yesterday appointed Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo as the new Chief justice of Uganda replacing Justice Bart Katureebe who retired in June upon attaining the mandatory retirement age for a Chief Justice in Uganda.
Justice Owiny- Dollo who has been Uganda’s deputy Chief Justice since 30th September 2017 became the acting Chief Justice upon the retirement and departure of Justice Bart Katureebe on the 21st of June until such now when the President has appointed him a substantive Chief Justice.
Following interviews of several Judges for the position of Chief Justice by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in mid-march, the Commission forwarded three names to the President for consideration.
The trio included two senior Supreme Court Judges; Justice Richard Buteera, Justice Esther Kisakye and then Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo.
The three contenders, Justice Owiny emerged the favourite shattering the convention in Uganda’s Judicial system where if one was a deputy Chief Justice, he or she would not go on to become the Chief Justice.
Therefore, Justice Owiny Dollo’s nomination makes him the first person in Uganda’s judicial history to climb from Deputy to Chief Justice.
Justice Owiny Dollo was born and raised in Agago district.
He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Law at Makerere University and later went on to pursue a Diploma in Legal practice from the Law Development Centre.
He also has a Masters in conflict resolution that was obtained from the University of Bradfod in UK and later he also attained a certificate in advanced conflict mediation skills from the Center for Conflict Resolution in South Africa.
He has served as a legal counsel for peace talks between Uganda’s People’s Democratic Republic Movement and the government of Uganda in 1988, between the LRA and the government between 2006-2008 and also served as legal counsel for Reik Machar.
He was very crucial in the drafting of the 1995 Uganda constitution that Uganda continues to use till date.
Justice Owiny Dollo served as a Member of Parliament representing Agago in the 6th parliament from 1996-2001.
In 2008, he was appointed to high court of Uganda, a position he served until 2015 when he was to the Court of Appeal of Uganda.
In 2017, he was appointed Deputy Chief Justice by President Museveni, he held the position until retired Chief Justice of Uganda Bar Katureebe retired this year.
Justice Owiny Dollo is remembered for handling the terrorists who were responsible for the 2010 twin bombings in Kampala.
He comes with a high level of experience and upon confirmation by the parliamentary committee, there is no doubt that he will bring great reform to Uganda’s judicial system.