Francis M. Ssekandi
Encyclopedia
Francis M. Ssekandi is a Professor of Law at the Columbia Law School
and, since 1 July 2007, a Judge of the World Bank
Administrative Tribunal
. He has published on Law and Development, Human Rights, and Good Governance. Ssekandi is a former Judge, High Court/Justice of Appeal (1972–1974), and member, Uganda Supreme Court (1974–1979).
He graduated in 1965 with LL.B (Hons) from the University of London
and obtained his LL.M from Columbia Law School
. He became a Judge of the High Court of Uganda in 1974 and later Justice of Appeal of the currently renamed Supreme Court of Uganda. Before becoming a Judge Mr. Ssekandi was Director of the Law Development Center
, Uganda's premier research and professional legal training institution, and was the pioneer of the highly successful Uganda Bar Course conducted by the Center. Mr. Ssekandi joined the United Nations
in 1981 and was a principal legal advisor to the United Nations development programmes and was also in charge of the commercial law cluster resolving commercial disputes with the United Nations. He negotiated several technical cooperations agreements with governments and initiated many innovative institutional legal models for the delivery of UN programmes, including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS), the African Management Services Company (AMSCO), the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) and United Nations Compensation Commission
after the 1991 Iraq war
. In 1996 he became Deputy to the Secretary General's Special Representative in Liberia
, in charge of peacekeeping
operations there. In 1997 he was appointed General Counsel of the African Development Bank
where he was the anchor for the institutional reforms carried out by President Omar Kabbaj
, including revision of the Bank's Charter to incorporate new voting rights for shareholders, and establishment of an Administrative Tribunal to judge staff disputes. Mr. Ssekandi retired from the African Development Bank in 2000 and has since then combined teaching at Columbia University and consulting with the United Nations, its agencies and other international institutions. He is the author of many articles on International Law and International Economic Law. He also edited Judge Elis's Second Revised Edition "New Horizons in International Law"(1992). As a Judge he pioneered the integration of customary law into the general law of Uganda and wrote a number of authoritative opinions on land tenure. He currently lectures on African Law and Development. He is a Board Member on a number of NGOs including the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the War and Peace Centre and the International Law Institute (Uganda).
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
and, since 1 July 2007, a Judge of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
Administrative Tribunal
WBAT
WBAT is a radio station broadcasting a Oldies format. Licensed to Marion, Indiana, USA, the station serves the Muncie-Marion area. The station is currently owned by Hoosier AM/FM LLC, formerly Mid-America Radio Group, Inc. and features programing from CBS Radio, ESPN Radio and Westwood One. The...
. He has published on Law and Development, Human Rights, and Good Governance. Ssekandi is a former Judge, High Court/Justice of Appeal (1972–1974), and member, Uganda Supreme Court (1974–1979).
He graduated in 1965 with LL.B (Hons) from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and obtained his LL.M from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
. He became a Judge of the High Court of Uganda in 1974 and later Justice of Appeal of the currently renamed Supreme Court of Uganda. Before becoming a Judge Mr. Ssekandi was Director of the Law Development Center
Law Development Center
The Law Development Centre , is an educational institution for higher learning that offers various legal courses, ranging from one month to one year.-Overview:...
, Uganda's premier research and professional legal training institution, and was the pioneer of the highly successful Uganda Bar Course conducted by the Center. Mr. Ssekandi joined the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in 1981 and was a principal legal advisor to the United Nations development programmes and was also in charge of the commercial law cluster resolving commercial disputes with the United Nations. He negotiated several technical cooperations agreements with governments and initiated many innovative institutional legal models for the delivery of UN programmes, including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, or UNAIDS, is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV epidemic....
(UNAIDS), the African Management Services Company (AMSCO), the Global Environment Facility
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues....
(GEF) and United Nations Compensation Commission
United Nations Compensation Commission
The United Nations Compensation Commission was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council. Its mandate is to process claims and pay compensation for losses and damage suffered as a direct result of Iraq's 1990-1991 invasion and occupation of Kuwait...
after the 1991 Iraq war
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. In 1996 he became Deputy to the Secretary General's Special Representative in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, in charge of peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations there. In 1997 he was appointed General Counsel of the African Development Bank
African Development Bank
The African Development Bank Group is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa...
where he was the anchor for the institutional reforms carried out by President Omar Kabbaj
Omar Kabbaj
Omar Kabbaj is an advisor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco since 22 June 2006. He was the chairman of the African Development Bank from 26 August 1995 to 1 September 2005....
, including revision of the Bank's Charter to incorporate new voting rights for shareholders, and establishment of an Administrative Tribunal to judge staff disputes. Mr. Ssekandi retired from the African Development Bank in 2000 and has since then combined teaching at Columbia University and consulting with the United Nations, its agencies and other international institutions. He is the author of many articles on International Law and International Economic Law. He also edited Judge Elis's Second Revised Edition "New Horizons in International Law"(1992). As a Judge he pioneered the integration of customary law into the general law of Uganda and wrote a number of authoritative opinions on land tenure. He currently lectures on African Law and Development. He is a Board Member on a number of NGOs including the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the War and Peace Centre and the International Law Institute (Uganda).