Former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera has been officially elected as a judge of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) in New York.
Justice Buteera received 110 votes, securing his position on the tribunal alongside LingLing Zang of China. The election took place during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly held on Monday.
Buteera began his judicial career on December 16, 1981, as a Grade One Magistrate. He rose steadily through the ranks and later served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for eight years.
He joined the Supreme Court of Uganda in September 2017 after previously serving on the Court of Appeal. In 2020, he was appointed to the Judicial Service Commission, the constitutional body responsible for recruiting judges and regulating their conduct. That same year, he became Deputy Chief Justice, a position he held until April this year when he retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
About the UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT)
The UN Appeals Tribunal was established by the UN General Assembly in 2009 as part of reforms to improve the UN’s internal justice system. It serves as the final appellate body for administrative and employment-related disputes within the United Nations system.
UNAT hears appeals from judgments of the UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT), the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, decisions of the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the UN Joint Staff Pension Board (UNJSPB), and from other UN agencies that have accepted its jurisdiction.
How UNAT Operates
The tribunal meets three times a year during the spring, summer, and fall sessions. Its sittings may take place in New York, Nairobi, Geneva, or occasionally other locations. UNAT has seven judges elected by the UN General Assembly. Cases are typically heard by three-judge panels assigned by the President of UNAT, although in exceptional situations, the tribunal may sit as a full bench. Its judgments are final and binding, marking the conclusion of the UN internal appeals process.
