Justice Katureebe’s job advertised as he nears retirement

By Our Reporter

The Judicial Service Commission has advertised the position of Chief Justice seeking candidates to replace the current Chief Justice Bart Katureebe who is expected to retire in June this year.

Justice Katureebe is set to retire on June 20, 2020 having reached the mandatory retirement age 70 years. The Chief Justice is the head of Judiciary and is responsible for the administration and supervision of all courts in Uganda.

Justice Katureebe was appointed to the position of Chief Justice on March 5, 2015. Before that, he was a justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda.

According to the External Advert Number One of 2020, the JSC states that applicants must be Ugandans in possession of Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognised university or institution plus a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre or from any other recognised institution within the East African region. It adds that any Advanced Post Graduate Qualification will be an added advantage.

The applicants must also have served as a Justice of Supreme Court of Uganda or a court having similar Jurisdiction or has practice as an advocate for a period, not less than 20 years before a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in as far as the constitution guidelines are concerned.

It also notes that the applicants for the said post should attach at least four samples of judgements both civil and criminal that they have written or any legal publication or writing. Those to apply are supposed to do so not later than January 31, 2020 according to the advert.

The JSC Spokesperson Maria Thereza Naburya says that the successful applicants will be shortlisted and later interviewed.
Naburya notes that after, the commission does background checks on the person to see whether he or she is of a reputable character and then they forward those names to the President to choose whom he wishes.

According to Wikipedia, from 1975 until 1983, Katureebe worked as a state attorney in the Ministry of Justice. From 1983 until 1988, he practiced law in a private setting.

From 1988 until 1991, he served as the deputy minister for regional cooperation, then deputy minister of industry and technology (1991 to 1992), and State Minister for Health and a member of the National Resistance Council, a legislative body at that time (1992 to 1996).

From 1994 until 1995, he was the elected member of the Constituent Assembly representing Bunyaruguru County, Rubirizi District. From 1996 until 2001, he served as the minister of justice, constitutional affairs and attorney general. He went back to private practice in 2001, starting his own law firm Kampala Associated Advocates. He was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 2005.