Retired Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has Monday morning officially handed over office in a symbolic ceremony to his Deputy, Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo at the Judiciary Head Offices in Kampala.
Katureebe has retired after clocking the age cap, 70.
In his remarks he said: “There’s time for everything under the sun. It is time for me to go home.”
On Friday, his last official working day Katureebe in a brief statement said, “I am retiring from Judicial Service as the Chief Justice of Uganda on June 20, 2020.
He was appreciating all stakeholders he has worked with during his time as Chief Justice of Uganda.
“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 indeed been a great honour and privilege to work with you all.
“I believe that together we have registered some achievements in the Administration of Justice in the Country. I would urge all to extend the same support to the incoming Chief Justice,” said Justice Katureebe.
Occupying his seat for the last time in the Chief Justice chambers at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala, Justice Katureebe told some of his staff that:
“I have retired and I’m going home. I want people to see that you can retire and go home. I am just winding up for the new person to come in.
“I’ll be coming to Kampala as a visitor, and may be to the Supreme Court where I still have three months to finish my judgments. I also want to complete my book and I hope I can have the manuscript ready by December.”
He said since the President has not yet appointed his replacement, he would on Monday hand over the office to his deputy, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, who will serve in acting capacity, pending the appointment of a substantive chief justice.
“The Deputy Chief Justice (DO) will be acting from Sunday, because I technically leave on Saturday 20. June midnight. After that, I will not be able to sign anything as Chief Justice”.
A visibly contented Katureebe said to a few of his staff on Friday: “For me I am very happy with where we have reached — almost everything of mine has clicked.”
