Sadly, Katureebe leaves when the perception that legal justice in Uganda is for the rich and the mighty still reigns high.
Whatever law reform programmes we have had, none has addressed the rule of sub judice to which has the effect of excluding contribution of people who have not been called as witnesses yet may have useful information that could save legal justice from becoming a farce.
The man went to the High Court and the learned judge in his legal wisdom condemned the taxpayers of this impoverished and debt-ridden country to paying him a whopping $50 million!
Obviously, if the law does not bar anybody from commenting on matters that are before court, millions of citizens would have informed the court that degradation of the wetland was dangerous to the country and mankind; that government had prohibited mining of the wetlands; that the president is currently only cautiously exploring the use of such wetlands for fish farming but is preaching against other forms of wetland use.
As we wish the worthy, honourable Justice Katureebe a peaceful retirement, we pray that his successor will find time to think outside the box to initiate the plugging of legal loopholes that are deepening Uganda’s public debt through reckless legal awards.
