James Ogoola

principal judge, Ugandan High Court

James Ogoola became Principal Judge of the Ugandan Judiciary in 1998. He is also Justice of Appeal for the East African Court of Justice 2009 to 2016 and Lord Justice, COMESA Court of Justice from 1999 to 2013. Justice Ogoola has been Senior Legal Counsel to the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC and Paris, France from 1974 to 1998. In addition, he has been Chairman of the Transitional Justice Working Group in Uganda, since 2008. Justice Ogoola was an Associate Professor of International Finance Law at American University School of Law from 1980 to 1982 and Principal Legislative Draftsman for the Uganda government from 1969 to 1974. His other positions include: Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Mismanagement of HIV/AIDS Funds in Uganda in 2005 and Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Failed Banks in Uganda in 2000. Justice Ogoola has translated the Bible into his mother tongue, Lusamia. The translation was launched in July 2008. He also published an anthology of poetry, “Songs of Paradise,” in July 2009. Justice Ogoola received his LLB with Honors from the University of Dares Salaam, Tanzania in 1969. He obtained his LLM from Columbia University in New York in 1974.