Julia Sebutinde – First African woman judge of UN court awarded

Nkumba University awards Judge Julia Sebitinde an honorary doctorate.

Nkumba university has awarded Justice Julia Sebutinde a doctorate of LLD in recognition of her exemplary service to the world.

Sebutinde was awarded the doctorate on 23rd Jan 2014 at a special function presided over by Gordon Wavamunno, the chancellor of Nkumba university at the main campus in Entebbe.

While giving her acceptance speech, Sebutinde encouraged administrators to always call her to give motivational talks to the students.

“I have gone through the same challenges students are facing today, I can make a change to you through my lectures”, She noted.

In attendance was Prof. Muyinda Mande, the deputy Vice Chancellor, Mr. John Bagunywa Sebutinde, her husband and Deans among other dons.

Who is Julia Sebutinde

Julia Sebutinde  was born to Mr. and Mrs. Semambo, a civil servant and a housewife in central Uganda. Sebutinde attended Lake Victoria Primary School in Entebbe in the 1960s, Gayaza High School, King’s College Budo and later joined Makerere University where she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1977.

She obtained the Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Center in Kampala, in 1978. In 1990, she enrolled in the University of Edinburgh for the degree of Master of Laws (LLM), graduating in 1991.

In 2009, in recognition of her body of work and contribution to International justice, she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD), by the University of Edinburgh.

Work Experience

Julia Sebutinde first worked in the Ministry of Justice in the Government of Uganda from 1978 until 1990. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1991, she worked in the Ministry of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom.

She later joined the Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Namibia, which had just attained Independence at that time.

In 1996, Julia Sebutinde was appointed Judge of the High Court of Uganda.

In 2005 Justice Julia Sebutinde was appointed, with secondment from the Uganda government, to the Special Court on Sierra Leone, established by the United Nations. She was later appointed the Presiding Judge in Courtroom II,  responsible for hearing the case against former Liberian strongman, Charles Taylor.

In the ICJ judges election, 2011, Sebutinde was one of eight candidates for five vacant judicial seats on the International Court of Justice, having been nominated by the national groups of Croatia, Denmark, and Uganda in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Justice Sebutinde is the Chancellor of the International Health Sciences University, in Kampala, a position she has held since 2008.

Family: Mrs. Julia Sebutinde is married to Mr. John Bagunywa Sebutinde and together they are the parents of two daughters.

She is reported to love music, soccer and swimming. She enjoys Indian cuisine and spicy food.