Supreme Court Justice Rubby Aweri Opio who has been admitted in critical condition for a month in Intensive Care Unit of Mulago National Referral Hospital has passed on.
A statement from chief justice Owiny Dollo revealed that the 69-year-old judge took his last breath on the wee hours of Wednesday (November 7th) morning.
“The Hon. the Chief Justice, Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny Dollo, with great grief announces the death of Supreme Court Justice and Chief Inspector of Courts, Hon. Mr. Justice Ruby Opio Aweri that occurred today 7th December, 2022 at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Justice Opio Aweri joined the Judiciary as a Magistrate Grade I in 1983 and rose through the ranks to a Justice of the Supreme Court a position he has held until the time of his death. As a career Judicial Officer, Justice Opio Aweri was appointed Judge of the High Court in 1998 and later elevated toa Justice of the Court of Appeal in 2015. At the time of
his demise, he was thee Chief Inspector of the Courts of Judicature.
The Judiciary family is saddened with the passing of Justice Opio Aweri, as he has been described by many as a great towering legal mind who served the bench with boundless dedication, utmost humility and commitment for nearly four decades. No doubt that the
Nation at large will miss his noble service.
Our prayer is for the Almighty God to comfort the family at such a moment of grief”, statement read.
One of his sons George Aweri told the press that Justice Opio died of the stroke which affected his brain
Who is Aweri Opio?
He was born in 1953 in Dokolo district. He started his career in the judiciary in 1982, as a legal assistant in Soroti District.
He was appointed a Grade One magistrate In 1983 and gradually rose through the ranks until 1998 when he was appointed a judge of the High Court.
Aweri Opio was promoted to the Uganda Court of Appeal in 2014.
He was elevated to the Supreme Court of Uganda In September 2015and in August 2017, the Judiciary named him as the new Chief Inspector of Courts for a three-year term.
He replaced Justice Augustine Sebuturo Nshimye.