Justice JB Katutsi is a hero of righteousness
By Our Editorial Team
14th March 2011
His Lordship Justice JB Katutsi is finally calling time on his 38 year service to the Judiciary, and by extension, to the people of Uganda. Those who have interacted with Justice Katutsi closely, both privately and professionally, are in no doubt whatsoever about the character of the man and Judge.
As a private person, we are told he is a very understanding, caring, approachable, reasonable, and above all, a man with a near fanatic sense of righteousness. It is therefore no coincidence that such a man ended up pursuing the cause of justice in society for a career.
One senior Advocate who appeared before Justice Katutsi countless times over the course of nearly two decades describes him as “…a fair man with a devastating grasp of Jurisprudence and rule of law as whole. I have never bothered to appeal against judgments”, the Advocate said.
Justice Katutsi, an unwilling publicist, grabbed the nation’s attention with the words of his poetic ruling as he bravely dismissed the “politically motivated” rape case against opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, Museveni’s most fierce political challenger.
In that case, Justice Katutsi chose these words, among others, to express his professional views about the rape case he had just heard. “…The best way to describe the way the investigations were conducted and carried out is that it was crude and amateurish and betrays the intentions behind this case”, Justice Katutsi said.
With those few words, Justice Katutsi demonstrated that he had never lost touch with the Judicial Oath [to dispense justice without fear or favour] he took nearly four decades earlier. It is his integrity and professionalism as Judge that we would like to salute with great humility.
In our eyes, and perhaps in the eyes of millions of other Ugandans who value the rule of law and fairness in the administration of justice, Justice Katutsi is a true hero of righteousness. We would like to thank him for his long service to our country. Happy retirement Your Lordship!
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