The former Chief Justice Samuel William Wako Wambuzi recently launched a book; The odyssey of a judicial career in precarious times, which chronicles his life as a three-time chief justice of Uganda.
In an interview with Pius Muteekani Katunzi shortly before the launch, the former CJ spoke about his inspiration for the book, his life story and career on the bench. Below is the second part of the interview, the first one having been published on Monday.
Problem is, the public knows little about the law council, which is charged with, among other things, disciplining the advocates. Often, when one is wronged by a lawyer, he just resigns to his fate.
I know there are problems in society. Problems like ignorance and things like that. We in law say ignorance is no defence (laughter). But what you are raising is important because the institutions charged with those responsibilities should be easily identified so that the public knows that in such and such a case this is what you should do.
Well, this is a question of educating the people about their rights and what can be done when they are wronged. But I agree that when you work too quietly and nobody knows what you are doing, that may hurt the public because they don't know what is going on.
Perhaps, making known what you are doing would be worthwhile. But ideas come from people, unless you have pointed out something, some things may just go on. If there is that sort of thing, well I have seen letters in newspapers, this is drawing attention. Maybe if we draw attention to the law council, they would take some steps to publicize their activities. And that way, help the public.
You went through a number of challenges while in school; Makerere University College failed you and so did Kabete Veterinary School, yet you were excelling in certain contests.
You even won an award at Kabete. Was this a problem of the education system, which seemed to be more interested in grades than the holistic approach?
Quite honestly I don't know. I was puzzled myself. Rightly or wrongly. When you refer to the Kenyan things, I thought I had stepped on the wrong toes. And that was the reason. I don't think I had a complaint about the educational system. It was the way I think we reacted to situations.
We thought perhaps we offended the authorities by pointing out that they were lax in allowing armed men to come to our hostel and take a student at night and they didn't intervene. This was the complaint and maybe suggesting that the school should be moved back to Kampala may have perhaps annoyed the people and [they] said what sort of student is this? I walked away with my award from Kabete but I was discontinued. I was puzzled myself. Read more
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