Just months after Justice Bart Katureebe retired, he has been offered a great opportunity in the Supreme Court of China.
The Supreme Court of China last evening hired retired Chief Justice Bart Katureebe as a member of its expert Committee on adjudication of international commercial disputes for the next four years.
It should be remembered that Justice Katureebe retired on June 20 this year after clocking the mandatory age of 70.
“This is to certify that Bart Magunda Katureebe is appointed as a member of International Commercial Expert Committee of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China for a four-year term from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2024,” reads in part the appointment letter.
The International Commercial Expert Committee was established in August 2018 in order to ensure fair and effective operation of the China International Commercial Court (CICC), an organ of the Supreme People’s Court established to adjudicate international commercial disputes.
The core functions of the Committee are; mediating international commercial disputes upon parties designation, providing expert opinion on applicable foreign laws and international conventions if entrusted by the CICC and giving advice on future development of the CICC.
The committee is comprised of 31 leaders of important international organisations , legal experts, eminent scholars, experienced judges, outstanding lawyers who are selected from different countries and legal systems.
“Taking account of your recognised expertise and extensive experiences in legal fields, I am writing on behalf of CICC to invite you as a candidate member of the Committee.” Katureebe’s invitation letter from Supreme People’s Court further read.
Justice Katureebe upon his retirement mid this year, was replaced by the current Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi-Dollo.
Who is Justice Katureebe
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. On 5 March 2015, he was appointed chief justice.
On 20 June 2020, he marked his last day in office as a chief justice of the Republic of Uganda and hand handed over to his Deputy Alfonse OWiny-Dollo to be the Acting Chief Justice.