KAMPALA – The Chief Justice, Bart M. Katureebe, has appointed the Registrar High Court, Mr. Tom Chemutai, Judiciary’s Acting Chief Registrar following the recent elevation of the incumbent, Ms Esta Nambayo, as High Court Judge.
The Chief Justice has similarly appointed Assistant Registrar (Inspectorate), Mr. Karemani Jamson Karemera, as Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer in the place of Mr. Vincent Emmy Mugabo, who was also appointed High Court Judge.
The appointments have come hand-in-hand with the transfers of 37 judicial officers who are being moved from one station to another in the interest of better service delivery in the Courts of Judicature.
Wrote the Chief Justice: “Following the appointment of Her Worship Esta Nambayo as Judge of the High Court, the Judicial Service Commission, under Article 147(1) of the Constitution and Regulation 19 of the Judicial Service Commission Regulations 2007/2005 has considered to appoint you as Acting Chief Registrar for the Judiciary pending its next recruitment programme from mid-January 2020.”
He also said he had appointed Mr. Karemani PRO, “in line with the Judiciary’s Strategic Plan to enhance and sustain information sharing and communication on the institution. Mr. Karemani will handle the assignment alongside his normal duties as Assistant Registrar.
While transferring the 37 judicial officers, who include Deputy Registrars, Assistant Registrars, Chief Magistrates, Magistrates Grade One and Magistrates Grade Two, the outgoing Chief Registrar, Ms Nambayo, said the transfers would be effective January 1, 2020.
She said the changes were in a bid to improve service delivery in the courts.
“Some of the transfers are meant to fill the gaps created by the elevation of some Judicial Officers as well as routine transfers aimed at promoting better relations between the Judiciary and stakeholders especially with the JLOS community and district authorities.”
The Profiles:
Tom Chemutai: He is a career Judicial Officer who started out as Magistrate Grade One in 1995 at Kisoro Magistrates Court. Between 2001 and 2003, he served as Personal Assistant to then Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki and he was thereafter appointed Chief Magistrate (2004-2010). In 2010, Mr. Chemutai was appointed Deputy Registrar and his first posting was at Mbarara High Court. He later went on to work at the Judicial Training Institute, Criminal Division and later the Executions and Bailiffs Division.
In 2014, President Yoweri Museveni appointed him full Registrar and was immediately deployed to the Supreme Court. He has been for the past one year, serving as the Registrar High Court. Mr. Chemutai holds a Masters in Law from Makerere University specializing in Criminal Law. His Bachelor’s degree is from the same institution and has post graduate diploma in legal practice from Law Development Centre. Mr. Chemutai has held several leadership positions including Council Member, Secretary General – East African Magistrates and Judges Association as well as Council Member of Uganda Judicial Officers Association.
Karemani Jamson Karemera: He started out as a Legal Officer at the Legal Aid Project of Uganda Law Society in 1996 before crossing over to the Judiciary as Magistrate Grade One in 2000. In 2010, he was appointed Chief Magistrate and his first posting was in Kitgum. He was assigned Ag. Assistant Registrar, Criminal Division a docket he handled between 2014 and 2015. He was thereafter sent to Buganda Road and later Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court as Chief Magistrate. In 2018, he was appointed Assistant Registrar and was posted to the Inspectorate of Courts, a position he holds to date.
Mr. Karemani has served as Deputy Treasurer, Treasurer East African Magistrates and Judges Association. He has served as Publicity Secretary for the Rotary Club of Kitgum and for the last seven years represents Chief Magistrates on the Judiciary Performance Enhancement Committee. He represents the Judiciary on the Committee of Strengthening Access to Justice for Children in East Africa.
