Justice Julia Sebutinde graduated from Makerere University in Uganda in 1977. In 1978 she obtained the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kampala Law Development Centre. Later that year she started work in Uganda’s Ministry of Justice where she rose to the level of Principal State Attorney/Principal Legislative Counsel.
In 1991 she graduated with an LLM (Distinction) from the University of Edinburgh before starting work at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. From here she was seconded to the Ministry of Justice in the newly-independent Republic of Namibia.
In 1996 she was appointed Judge of the High Court of Uganda. She has chaired three high-level commissions investigating allegations of corruption in the Uganda Police Force, Ministry of Defence and the Uganda Revenue Authority.
In 2005 she was seconded to the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. In 2007 she was appointed the presiding judge of Trial Chamber II, which is currently engaged in the trial of the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor.
She is a member of the Uganda Women Lawyers Association (FIDA) – Uganda; the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) and the Uganda Christian Lawyers Association (UCLA). She is also a good-will ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Programme, which addresses reproductive health, population development strategies and advocacy.
November 28, 2011 at 5:33 pm
It is nice for Uganda to have such a brilliant lawyer. It would have been equally nice if she were impartial in her investigations in commissions she carried out at three high-level commissions investigations on allegations of corruption in the Uganda Police Force, Ministry of Defence and the Uganda Revenue Authority.She should have more courage and criticize the Ugandan President regarding the corruption in Uganda. If she cannot, given her international status and influence. Who then will? She understands the law and the implications of not abiding with the law. I would like to hear her voice in the anti corruption matters, especially the current and past involvement of Amama Mbabazi, the Internal Affairs Minister and the President. Unless she can help Ugandans to build a fair and just society, she is not worthy any honorary degrees. The same applies to Archbishop Sentamu. He can fast for journalist but he never lifts when Ugandans are suffering in the UK or black people in particular. We need for these people to speak out more where it concerns Africans or ethnic minorities
January 6, 2012 at 3:09 am
Dear justce
Sebutinde you cant go wrong, a christian strong back ground that builds a sense of truth
on some occassion your O.G in Gayaza high comment that “seeking justice was your dream” as early as senior two im glad God has lifted your dream to that level be blessed.
Mirriam
January 14, 2012 at 4:17 pm
[...] as NASA’s Flight Director, who was represented by his parents Mr. George and Gloria Alibaruho. Lady Justice Julia Sebutinde who was recently voted to the International Court of Justice bench becoming the very first African [...]