Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has urged the government to consider revising the retirement age of judicial officers, arguing that the country stands to benefit significantly from their accumulated experience.
Speaking at State House Entebbe during the swearing-in ceremony of his deputy, Dr. Flavian Zeija, Justice Owiny-Dollo emphasized the need for a national dialogue on the matter.
“I turned 65 four years ago. Had I retired then, it would have been a waste. In the judiciary, experience is invaluable,” he said.
Justice Owiny-Dollo began his judicial career as a High Court judge in 2008, later serving on the Court of Appeal, before becoming Deputy Chief Justice in 2017 and Chief Justice in 2020. He is scheduled to retire on January 18 next year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Currently, retirement ages in Uganda’s judiciary differ by rank: justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal retire at 70, High Court judges at 65, and registrars and magistrates at 60.
The Judiciary has proposed raising the retirement age for justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and Constitutional Court from 70 to 75, to retain skilled and experienced judges for longer periods.
