President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has saluted the late Chief Justice Benedict Kiwanuka and described him as a principled person who unfortunately ended up working for the wrong government of Idi Amin.
As we salute Ben Kiwanuka, I appeal to you all to consolidate and support the unity and approach of togetherness because the teeth which are together can chew the meat better,” Museveni added.
The President was officiating at the 5th Memorial Day of Chief Justice Benedicto Kagimu Mugumba Kiwanuka at the High Court in Kampala on Wednesday.
Today marked 50 years since the late Chief Justice Kiwanuka was last seen alive and five years since the Judiciary gazetted Benedicto Kiwanuka Day in commemoration of the first Ugandan Chief Justice.
Under the theme “Benedicto Kiwanuka – Reflections on the Independence of the Judiciary in Modern Times” H.E the President hailed Chief Justice Kiwanuka for standing firm against the tribal chauvinism of Mengo, saying no to pushing tribal agendas and advocating for a national position.
The fountain of honor also cautioned on the independence of the Judiciary which he said needs some amendment.
“You cannot be independent of the Ugandan people. So, I would like some amendment to this idea. It is correct that the Judiciary should be independent, but it should be independent within a convergent national system” Museveni highlighted.
Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo hailed Benedicto Kiwanuka and thanked the family of for giving Uganda their son who served as a politician and a private practitioner.
“The former Chief Justice was a principled man whose trademark sense of righteousness and commitment to the straight ways of justice put him at loggerheads with the infamous government of Idi Amin to an extent of taking his life” Owiny Dollo added.
The Chief Justice also saluted President Museveni for the support to the Judiciary especially The Administration of the Judiciary Act 2020 and the enhancement of the Judiciary budget that has greatly improved service delivery of the Judiciary.
“The increment in the budget has seen an increase in the number of Chief Magistrates to 77 up from 42, more 16 Magisterial areas have been operationalized and the number of Grade one Magistrates has increased to 301 from 186 in the previous financial year which has reduced the backlog of cases” Owinyi Dollo articulated.
Prof. Emmanuel Ni Ashie Kote, a Ghanaian Supreme Court Judge, who was the keynote speaker spoke highly about the independence and the financial autonomy of the Judiciary for it to perform better.
“We should all work towards the financial autonomy of the Judiciary,” he added.
Hon. Nobert Mao the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, who was also present promised to support the President in strengthening the Judiciary and other arms of government to work as a team.
Mao, who is also the President of DP to which Chief Justice Kiwanuka belonged, reawakened the call to the Government of Uganda to get involved in finding his remains to be accorded a befitting burial.
“Your Excellency, when our country finally buries a man whose dream was to have a Ugandan state whose foundation is Truth and Justice it will be a glorious day” Mao added.
Principal Judge Emeritus, Dr. Yorokamu Bamwine, and the late Justice Leticia Mukasa Kikonyogo who died at the age of 77 years were the recipients of this year’s Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka Awards for their distinguished service with integrity in the Judiciary.
Chief Justice Kiwanuka was murdered during Amin’s administration on September 21, 1972, after he was abducted from his chambers at the High Court in Kampala.
The Judiciary declared an annual memorial lecture in his honor every September 21.
The ceremony was attended by hundreds of guests physically and online who included the family of the late Chief Justice Benedicto Kiwanuka, Chief Justice Emeritus Benjamin Odoki, the Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka; Minister of State for Defense, Hon. Oboth Oboth, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Judges, retired Justices, representatives from Uganda Law Society ULS), Senior police and Prisons officers, and development partners.
