I became a lawyer by accident - Owiny-Dollo

AGAGO/GULU. Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has said being a lawyer and progressing to becoming a judge was none of his dreams yet he ended up in the chambers.
“I became a lawyer by accident, my late father never wanted me to become a lawyer or a judicial officer. He never wanted me to study law, when I sat for my O-Level, I overlooked at the need to consult my father and when my results came back, he asked me what I wanted to be but I told him I wanted to study law,” Justice Owiny-Dollo said.
He said his father never wanted him to become a judicial officer because of a notorious magistrate who in the 1960s was corrupt and used to receive bribes from litigants in his home village in Patongo Sub-county.
Justice Owiny-Dollo made the remarks during the thanksgiving ceremony for his appointment as the Deputy Chief Justice at Akwee Primary School in Patongo Town Council, Agago District, on Saturday.
The colourful event was attended by cultural leaders from Acholi, Judicial officials, political and religious leaders and thousands of locals from Acholi Sub-region. He was appointed in August last year by President Museveni and replaced Justice Steven Kavuma.
Justice said during his working times as a lawyer until his appointment as a Deputy Chief Justice, he has never engaged in corruption nor received a bribe.
“If you want to insult me, call me corrupt, I can ‘fight’ back like those days when I was still a cattle keeper,” Justice Owiny-Dollo said.
He cited a case of some individuals who he declined to name who in 2011 accused him of receiving a Shs13 million bribe while handling the election petition case in Masaka District yet he did not.
He advised judicial officers to remain impartial and not join the bandwagon.
Chief Justice Bart Katurebe said Justice Owiny-Dollo’s appointment was not for pleasure but a position that attracts commitment and responsibility, adding that together they will change the face of the Judiciary.
He, however, reiterated that there still remains a challenge in regards to corruption among some judicial officers but noted that they are working round the clock to weed out such elements.
President Museveni, who was the chief guest at the event, said elevation of Justice Owiny-Dollo to the position of Deputy Chief Justice was a result of the new dispensation in appointing top government officials after he took over power in 1986.
“When we won that war, our ambition was to make Uganda democratic and its leadership to be transparent. Therefore state leadership was through two methods, political leadership was through elections at district and national levels, while the technical services are through interviews and examination,” President Museveni said.

Appointments on merit
He noted that appointments of top government officials have been made possible through systems initiated by the National Resistance Movement that relies on merit.
“The leaders you see, I didn’t know any of them myself but the system brought them up, the days of just appointing some people in office because you like them has gone, the channels are now two, through election or merit,” Mr Museveni said.
The Gulu Archbishop John Baptist Odama, who led a Eucharistic mass during the thanksgiving ceremony, tasked Justice Owiny-Dollo to be independent and “fear” not anyone as he deals with his work.
“Don’t be afraid of anyone when doing your duty; remain truthful and impartial in your work as a judge. Uganda has a lot of problems and need a judge who is honest enough to solve the problems,” he said.