Justice James Ogoola (sometimes referred to as James Munange Ogoola[1][2]) is the former Principal Judge of the High Court of Uganda and a Justice of the COMESA Court of Justice in Lusaka, Zambia. He is the also the former chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission of Uganda.[3] Previously, he served as the chairman of the commission of inquiry into the mismanagement of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.[4] He was an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda. He is a member of The East African Court of Justice.[5]
Beginning in 1969, James Ogoola has worked in different capacities, including the following:[4]
As a state attorney (legislative drafting), then senior parliamentary draftsman, then principal state attorney (Drafting), in the Department of First Parliamentary Counsel, at the Uganda Justice Ministry and the Chambers of the Attorney General, from 1969 until 1974.
As a legal officer in the Privy Council Office, at the Federal Department of Justice, Ottawa, Canada
He was the first African to be appointed legal adviser at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1974. He was responsible for Latin American country operations between 1974 and 1978 at IMF headquarters, Washington DC, USA.
As a legal officer at the IMF office in Paris, France, from 1978 until 1980.
As the legal officer responsible for African & Middle East country operations at the IMF headquarters, in Washington, DC, from 1981 until 1988 and from 1991 until 1997.
Member, Chief Justice's technical committee on the establishment of the Commercial Court of Uganda from 1996 until 1997.
Obtained certification to the Courts of Judicature, Uganda in 1997.
Member of the tribunal investigating abuse of office by Iganga District chairman in 1999.
Head of Commercial Court of Uganda from 1999 until 2004.
Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Banking, January 2000 to October 2000.
Member of the tribunal investigating abuse of office by Sembabule District chairman in 2000.
Member of the judicial panel on National Referendum 2000.
Appointed Principal Judge, High Court of Uganda, on 30 July 2004, replacing Justice Herbert Ntabagoba.
Member, judges administrative advisory committee, which advises the Chief Justice of Uganda on the administration of the Judiciary.
Represented the Judiciary at the Tripartite Conference of the Judiciaries of East African countries.
Represented the East African judiciaries at the ministerial negotiations and drafting sessions of the proposed East African Treaty, with particular emphasis on the establishment of the East African Court of Justice.[4]
Ogoola leisure time is taken up almost entirely by matters of personal faith. He has just completed a draft translation of the New Testament Bible into his mother tongue, Lusamia.[4]
In 2009, Ogoola's first collection of poems, Songs of Paradise: A Harvest of Poetry and Verse, was published, to favourable critical acclaim. One reviewer called it a "landmark for the industry". For the first time in more than 30 years, the media showed a lot of interest in the book.[8]The Observer called it "a jewel, and one to read once and again and enjoy more each time".
[9]The Independent called it "one heck of a piece of writing" but wondered why there was nothing before 2005. On its largely Christian themes, he said: "Ogoola has attempted to paraphrase biblical passages in a text that is every inch prose but chopped and arranged as to appear as poetry".[10]
Personal life
Justice Ogoola is married to Florence Wandera[6] and they have 5 adult children between them.[6][11][12]
