Judiciary holds successful Hon. Justice Ben Kiwanuka Memorial Lecture
Hon. Justice Wako Wambuzi, key note speaker at the inaugural Bendicto Kiwanuka memorial lecture
The first Benedicto Kiwanuka memorial lecture was on September 21, 2018 launched in honour of his legal legacy as the first Ugandan Chief Justice.
The former Chief Justice was picked from his chambers in 1972 by President Idi Amin's men and to date his whereabouts are unknown.
Forty six years to date, the Judiciary had never organised a memorial for him until September 21, 2018. The high profile event which was attended by the Kiwanuka family, legal fraternity and judicial officers of different ranks was presided over by H.E Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Vice President.
Three-time Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Samuel W. Wako Wambuzi (1972-1975, 1979-1980 and 1986-2001), delivered the keynote address titled: "Securing Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in Uganda: The Enduring Legacy of Benedicto Kiwanuka", recounting the events that happened 46 years ago.
"I still vividly recall the 21 September,1972, when the late Chief Justice was abducted. I remember going to the High Court on that day and being immediately struck by an eerie silence which appeared to engulf the entire grounds."
He went on to state that upon being greeted by that silence, he rang the then Chief Registrar, asking what could have happened.
"Don't you know that the Chief Justice has been taken by the security men?" The Chief Registrar reportedly replied to Hon. Justice Wambuzi.
Hon. Justice Wambuzi added that he responded by asking: "what for" But no satisfactory answer was given to him.
However, Hon. Justice Wambuzi recalls that prior to the abduction of Hon. Justice Kiwanuka, his relationship with then President Idi Amin, was deteriorating day by day.
"I noticed a growing difference between the two, with the Chief Justice being progressively moved from the first row, then to the second and then third and so on. I was compelled to ask Benedicto what was happening and he said he didn't know."
Hon. Justice Wambuzi went on to reveal to the legal minds that had gathered at the High Court premises for the first Kiwanuka memorial lecture that he could have been killed as a result of failing to satisfy President Amin's dictates.
Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Kiwanuka had previously been imprisoned in 1969 by HE Milton Obote but HE Amin released when he captured power through a coup.
Further in his lecture, Hon. Justice Wambuzi said if Hon. Justice Kiwanuka was still alive, he would have decried of the current deteriorating state of constitutionalism in the country.
He went ahead to name some of the Constitutional wrongs being committed especially against the Judiciary such as disobedience of the court orders, invasion of the courts by mobs, judges not being in charge of this country, poor facilitation of the Judiciary among other challenges.
In his parting shots, Hon. Justice Wambuzi appealed to the relevant authorities to end impunity by state actors.
He also called upon the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) to allow the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and principal judge to be part of the selection of new judges of the courts to achieve a functional Judiciary.
CJ Speaks
The Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart M. Katureebe,in his brief remarks explained that the Judiciary in January, 2018, decided to start honoring the legacy of Kiwanuka as a judge and also as the first Ugandan Chief Justice.
He said Hon. Justice Kiwanuka's legacy should always remind them that incidents like invasion of the court premises to arrest suspects, disobedience of court orders among other vices, could see the country slide into its dark days.
Ambassador Kagimu Kiwanuka, the son to the late Chief Justice Kiwanuka, applauded the Judiciary for organizing the first ever memorial lecture in honour of his late father. He also requested if they could organise for him annual prayers too.
Amb. Kagimu also narrated to the audience how the security men stormed his father's chambers and grabbed him and took him to Makindye military barracks where he met his gruesome death.
At the same event, a moving documentary was played featuring major persons in Kiwanuka's life, his family, survivors and Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere his successor as DP President, two time presidential candidate, who was in close touch with him and in whom he confided his imminent demise after delivering a habeas corpus ruling that freed a British national working in Kakira Sugar Works.
Other highlights
The Uganda Law Society pledged to rename its Rule of Law Award, the Benedicto Kiwanuka Rule of Law Award.
Prior to the lecture, the Chief Justice led a procession of all Judicial Officers and the legal fraternity around the High Court premises.
The Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, who was the chairperson of the event described the late Bendicto Kiwanuka as a principled, selfless, fearless and uncompromising leader.
Posted 25th, September 2018
