The Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart M. Katureebe, appointed Deputy Registrar,Vincent Emmy Mugabo, as Judiciary’s new Public Relations Officer (PRO). His Worship Mugabo’s appointment takes immediate effect. He will perform the new task alongside his other primary duties as Deputy Registrar in charge of the Mediation Registry at the High Court Commercial Division in Kampala.
The changes were communicated to all staff in a June 30, 2017 internal memo signed by the Judiciary Chief Registrar, His Worship Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa.
H/W Mugabo will provide overall oversight over the Judiciary’s Public Relations and Communications Unit and also take the lead in the stakeholder engagements to explain the court services to the public. He will work closely with a team of professional communications specialists.
“Judiciary’s plan is to decentralize the Public Relations function to bring the Judiciary to the people and also to promote better understanding and relations between courts and the public,” said H/W Gadenya. The Chief Registrar said Judiciary’s ultimate objective is to increase levels of transparency and openness in the administration of justice through provision of real time information to the public.
“The Chief Justice has expressed his gratitude to His Worship Elias Omar Kisawuzi,the immediate past PRO and Her Worship Harriet Ssali, the deputy PRO for the tremendous service they rendered to the Judiciary in their previous positions,”reads H/W Gadenya’s memo in part.
H/W Kisawuzi retains the office of Registrar, Research and Training at the Judicial Studies Institute while H/W Ssali will continue as Ag. Registrar, Court of Appeal/International Crimes Division, both in Kampala.
Who is Vincent Emmy Mugabo?
Born on 25 December 1974, His Worship Mugabo is a career Judicial Officer who joined the Judiciary as a Magistrate Grade One in 2000. He rose through the ranks to his current rank of Deputy Registrar.
He is the immediate past president of the Uganda Judicial Officers Association, an umbrella body for all Judicial Officers in the country – a portfolio he held for four years.
He was also the Chairperson of the Peer Committee on Ethics and Integrity for Chief Magistrates Central Region. In 2011, he was recognized by in the Justice, Law and Order Sector Integrity Committee Report for his excellent performance as Chief Magistrate Buganda Road Court in the Annual Nation Wide Field Visits.
In 2012, as Chief Magistrate at the Mengo Chief Magistrate Court, he participated in the successful pilot of Small Claims Procedure, earning the Judiciary the 2013 Public Sector Innovations Award from the Ministry of Public Service – recognizing their contribution towards improving service delivery in Uganda.
Since 2014 at the Mediation Registry, he has been involved in training Justice, Law and Order Sector staff in Alternative Dispute Resolution focusing on Mediation. As Deputy Registrar, he has coordinated the successful roll out of Mediation in High Court Divisions and Circuits as well as Magistrates Courts in a bid to clear case backlog.
In 2016,he received an award from the Uganda Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity in Recognition of Professionalism and Integrity. H/W Mugabo is a holder of Bachelor of Laws (MUK, 1998); Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LDC,1999); Post Graduate Diploma in Management (UMI, 2005); Post Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (MUK, 2014) and is currently finalizing a Master of Laws degree at Makerere University, among others.
