{{short description|Former Chief Justice of Uganda}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Benjamin Josses Odoki | image = | image_size = | caption = | honorific_prefix = Honorable | office = Chairman of the Committee of Constitutional Experts for Drafting the EAC Political Federation Constitution | deputy = Amos Wako | term_start = September 2018 | term_end = | appointer = Yoweri Museveni | office2 = Chief Justice of Uganda | term_start2 = 2001 | term_end2 = 23 June 2013 | predecessor2 = Samuel Wako Wambuzi | office3 = Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda | term_start3 = 1986 | term_end3 = 23 June 2013 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|03|23}} | birth_place = Dhaka, Busia District, Uganda | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = '''University of Dar es Salaam'''<br/> {{small|(Bachelor of Laws)}}<br/>'''Law Development Centre''' <br/>{{small|(Diploma in Legal Practice)}} | profession = Lawyer | networth = | spouse = {{small|'''Mrs. Veronica Odoki'''}} }}
'''Benjamin Josses Odoki''' (born 23 March 1943) is a former Chief Justice of Uganda, former Supreme Court Justice of Eswatini,<ref>{{cite web |last1=ICJ – International Commission of Jurists |title=Swaziland: Appointment and promotion of judges; Security of tenure |url=https://www.icj.org/cijlcountryprofiles/swaziland/swaziland-judges/swaziland-appointment-and-promotion-of-judges-security-of-tenure/ |access-date=29 May 2021 |website=ICJ – International Commission of Jurists |publisher=ICJ – International Commission of Jurists}}</ref> and current Chairman of the Committee of Constitutional Experts for Drafting the EAC Political Federation Constitution, the committee drafting the constitution for the East African Confederation.<ref name="theeastafrican.co.ke2">{{Cite web |date=6 July 2020 |title=Ready for a United States of East Africa? The wheels are already turning |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/ready-for-a-united-states-of-east-africa-the-wheels-are-already-turning-1403564 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129021127/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/ready-for-a-united-states-of-east-africa-the-wheels-are-already-turning-1403564 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |access-date=23 January 2021 |website=The East African}}</ref> Odoki served as the tenth Chief Justice of Uganda from 2001 to 2013 after fifteen years as a Judge on the Supreme Court of Uganda.<ref name="One">{{cite web|accessdate=14 January 2018 | date=25 September 2005 |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1116348/odoki-blasts-politicians |title=Odoki blasts politicians |first=Anne |newspaper=New Vision | last=Mugisa | location=Kampala}}</ref><ref name="Two">{{cite web| url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Odoki-s-long-journey-to-retirement/-/689844/2413428/-/3q7eesz/-/index.html | title=Odoki's long journey to retirement |date=10 August 2014 |accessdate=14 January 2018 |newspaper=Daily Monitor | first=Anthony |last=Wesaka |location=Kampala}}</ref> He was a State Attorney of Uganda previous to his appointment to the court in 1986.<ref name="Two" />
==Background and education== He was born in ''Dhaka Village'', Busia District, in the Eastern Region of Uganda, on 23 March 1943, in a family with modest means.<ref name="Two"/> He studied at King's College, Budo, in Wakiso District, for his secondary school education. He was admitted to the University College, Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1969. Later, he received a Diploma in Legal Practice, from the Law Development Centre in Kampala.<ref name="Two"/> In 1974, he achieved a Certificate in Development Studies from the University of Sussex, a Certificate in International Law from Geneva in 1975 and a Doctor of Law (LL.D) Degree (Honoris Causa) from the Commonwealth University Belize in London.<ref name="Lira">{{cite web |last1=Lira University |title=Chancellor |url=https://lirauni.ac.ug/chancellor/ |website=Lira University |publisher=Lira University |access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref>
==Career before judgeship== He returned to Uganda after his studies in Tanzania. In 1969 he became an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and was called to the Uganda Bar. The following year, he was appointed a State Attorney and was later promoted to Senior State Attorney a few years later.<ref name="Two"/> He also served as Director of the Uganda Law Development Centre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ssenkabirwa |first1=A |title=LDC get new director as Wante retires. He currently serves as the Chancellor of Lira University a public university in Northern Uganda within the Lango sub region. |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ldc-get-new-director-as-wante-retires-1513342 |access-date=29 May 2021 |agency=Daily Monitor |publisher=Nation Media Group |date=4 April 2012}}</ref>
==Career as a judge== In 1978, at the age of 35 years, he was appointed as a judge to the High Court of Uganda. From 1981 until 1984 was seconded to serve as the Director of Public Prosecutions. In 1986 he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda. From 1996 to 2000, he served as Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission.<ref name="Group">{{cite web |last1=The Judicial Integrity Group |title=The Hon. Justice Benjamin Joseph Odoki |url=https://www.judicialintegritygroup.org/the-hon-justice-benjamin-joseph-odoki |website=The Judicial Integrity Group |publisher=The Judicial Integrity Group |access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref> He became the Chief Justice of Uganda in 2001, serving in that capacity until his mandatory retirement at the age of 70 on 23 March 23, 2013. However, he served a three months extension until 23 June 2013.<ref name="Two"/> The extension was controversial and generated mixed reactions from the public.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mugerwa |first1=Yasiin |last2=Nalugo |first2=Mercy |title=Museveni sinned in recalling 'Odoki' from retirement-MPs |url=https://www.parliament.go.ug/cmis/browser?id=cc4f8823-113d-4eb2-b9fd-987eb15fd0fb%3B1.0 |access-date=29 May 2021 |agency=Daily Monitor |publisher=Nation Media Group |date=24 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapter Four Uganda |title=Odoki Reappointment Unconstitutional |url=https://chapterfouruganda.org/articles/2014/10/25/odoki-reappointment-unconstitutional |website=Chapter Four Uganda |publisher=Chapter Four Uganda |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329033740/https://chapterfouruganda.org/articles/2014/10/25/odoki-reappointment-unconstitutional |url-status=dead }}</ref> He formerly served as a Vice president/ Judge of the Administrative Tribunal of the African Development Bank and Judge of the Supreme Court of Eswatini.<ref>{{cite web |last1=African Development Bank Group |title=Administrative Tribunal |url=https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/organisational-structure/administrative-tribunal |website=African Development Bank Group |publisher=African Development Bank Group |access-date=29 May 2021}}</ref>
==Family== He is married with to Veronica Odoki, and is the father of four children; Peter Odoki, Phillip Odoki, Dorah Odoki and Joshua Odoki.<ref name="Two"/>
==Other considerations== He at one time taught at Makerere University Faculty of Law and at the Law Development Centre. He served as the chairperson of the Editorial Board of the Uganda Law Reports. He has written a number of books and has published articles on a number of subjects, including constitutional development, human rights and criminal justice.<ref name="Two"/>
==Awards== In 2012 he received the Gusi Peace Prize International Award in Manila at the Philippine International Convention Centre for Social Justice and Humaritarian Law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=life.lk |title=Deepika to receive Gusi Peace Prize next week |url=http://www.life.lk/article/uncategorized/deepika-to-receive-gusi-peace-prize-next-week/83/3591 |access-date=29 May 2021 |agency=Life online |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd |date=19 November 2012}}</ref> He also has the Distinguished Jurist Award by the Nigerian Association of Democratic Lawyers.<ref name="Lira" />
==See also== *Government of Uganda *Supreme Court of Uganda
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110720085339/http://www.judicature.go.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=22 The Judiciary of Uganda Homepage] *[http://www.ugandaonlinelawlibrary.com/lawlib/courts_index.asp Uganda Online Law Library - Courts and Judicature] *[http://www.ugandaonlinelawlibrary.com/files/free/The%20Judicature%20(Supreme%20Court%20Rules)%20Directions._SI_13_11.pdf Uganda Online Law Library - Supreme Court of Uganda Rules - 76 pp pdf] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080531055758/http://www.ulii.org/ug/ Uganda Legal Information Institute] *[http://www.uls.or.ug/ Uganda Legal Society] *[http://www.ealawsociety.org/ East African Law Society]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Odoki, Benjamin Josses}} Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Ugandan judges Category:Chief justices of Uganda Category:Law Development Centre alumni Category:People from Busia District, Uganda Category:University of Dar es Salaam alumni Category:21st-century Ugandan judges Category:Academic staff of Makerere University Category:Academic staff of the Law Development Centre