First Makerere Law dean dies at 82

By Martin Ssebuyira

IN SUMMARY: Prof. Joseph Kakooza, a former chairman of the Uganda Law Reform Commission, died of cancer last Sunday night.

.............................

Kampala, Uganda.

Prof. Joseph Kakooza, was a man of many firsts. He was the first Ugandan to attend Harvard Law School in 1967, the first dean of the Makerere Faculty of Law, and the first professor of law in Uganda.

An asset to the Law Society of Uganda, Prof. Kakooza passed away last Sunday night. Prof. Kakooza died of cancer of the liver, a disease he had been battling for a while. His son, Fred Kakooza, early last month said his father was suffering from cancer that had affected his liver and kidney and was reportedly bedridden since February.

The Makerere University Social Welfare Officer, Mr Joseph Kiggundu, said Prof. Kakooza was very cooperative, a good listener and intelligent. “It will take long before we get a professor with such wisdom. May God rest his soul in eternal peace,” Mr Kiggundu said.

The professor, who was 82 years, was laid to rest at Kitovu Village in Masaka. Prof. Kakooza had recently retired as Dean of School of Law at Nkumba University. He leaves an illustrious career behind him.

After starting the Law Faculty at Makerere University, Kakooza held the position of dean twice, until 1999. He was a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London and an Advocate, of the High Court of Uganda and all subordinate court.

He was reputed for his vast and valuable experience, having been a Law Professor at Makerere University and University of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania, a Judge of the High Court of Uganda, a member of the East African Community Arbitration Tribunal and the president of the Industrial Court of Uganda.

In 2000, he became acting chairperson of the Uganda Law Reform Commission and was confirmed in this position two years later. He retired as chairman of the Uganda Law Reform Commission last year. His main areas of interest were investment law, property law, intellectual property and family law. He is survived by his wife Margaret Kakooza and his children.

Source: Daily Monitor (12/10/20120: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/First+Makerere+Law+dean+dies+at+82/-/688334/1531140/-/m2rna6/-/index.html