As stipulated under section 30 of the Universities and other tertiary institutions Act, 2001, that there shall be a Chancellor for each Public University who shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the University Council. Lira University Chancellor Hon. Justice Dr. Benjamin Joses Odoki was appointed by H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the recommendation of  Lira University Council as the first Chancellor of Lira University.

The Chancellor is the titular head of the University and as such shall preside at all Ceremonial Assemblies of the University and, in the name of that University, confer degrees and other academic titles and distinctions of that University.

Profile

Personal Details

Name: Hon. Justice Dr. Benjamin Joses Odoki

Date of Birth: 23 March, 1943

Place of Birth: Dakha Village, Buhebe sub-county, Busia District, Uganda

Nationality: Ugandan

Marital Status: Married with four children

Education and Qualifications

Hon. Justice Dr. Benjamin Joses Odoki received his education at King’s College Budo from 1960-1965 and at the University College Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1969.

He was enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda in 1970. In 1974, he achieved a Certificate in Development Studies from the University of Sussex and a Certificate in International Law from Geneva in 1975.

Later on, he achieved a Doctor of Law (LL.D) Degree (Honoris Causa) from the Commonwealth University Belize in London.

Professional Career

He was appointed a State Attorney, Department of Public Prosecutions, Kampala in 1969 and Senior State Attorney a few years later, he also served as Director of the Uganda Law Development Centre.

His judicial career began at the age of 35, with his appointment in 1978 as a Judge of the High Court of Uganda. From 1981 to 1984, he served as Director of Public Prosecutions on secondment from the Judiciary.

In 1986, he was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1989, he was appointed Chairman of the Uganda Constitutional Commission responsible for organization and supervision of work of the Commission set up to review the Constitution, collect views of the people, make proposals for a new Constitution and prepare a Draft Constitution for Uganda, subsequently adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1995. He also served as consultant on constitution-making processes in Kenya, Swaziland and Rwanda.

From 1996 to 2000, he served as Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission. From 2001 to 2013, he was appointed Chief Justice of Uganda. He is also a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, and a Judge of the Administrative Tribunal of the African Development Bank. In 2013, he was appointed as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court.

International and Local Honors

He has attained several awards namely;

1974: Uganda Independence Medal.

By the Government of Uganda.

1994: Order of Merit

By the United Budonians’ Club.

1995: Award of Merit

By the Uganda Law Society.

2002: Certificate of Recognition

By International Association of Women Judges.

2002: Appreciation Award

By Rotary International District 9200.

2004: The Key to Lucknow City Award

By the Mayor of Lucknow City, India, December 2004.

2005: Certificate of Recognition

By Makerere University.

2006: Lucknow Peace Award

By World Judiciary Summit, India.

2004: Appreciation Award

From Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

2011:  Ignatius Musaazi Award

From the Uganda Universities Union of Guild Parliaments.

2011: Appointed ABETO’S Goodwill Ambassador of Peace

By the Always Be Tolerant Organisation (ABETO).

2011: Distinguished Alumni Award

From the University of Dares Salaam( Faculty of Law, Golden Jubilee).

2012: Gusi Peace Prize International Award

Manila Philippines, for Social Justice and Humaritarian Law.

2013: Doctor of Law (LL.D) Degree

(Honoris Causa), Commonwealth University Belize, London.