Mr. Twinobusingye Severino

LLM | LLB | B.Ph | DIP. LP | DIP.LL | DIP.Ph | Advocate | Commissioner for Oaths | Notary Public | Founder and Managing Partner: M/S Twinobusingye Severino & Co. Advocates | President and Chairperson Executive Council Catholic Lawyers Society International | Chairperson University Council Karamoja Peace And Technology University | Senior Legal Consultant | Law Don Uganda Martyrs University | Member of Board of Directors of the Association of Religious in Uganda- ARU | Member of Board of Advisors of Mushana E Sacco (U) Ltd | Member of Board of Trustees of Kotido Catholic Diocese |

Twinobusingye Severino is a distinguished Ugandan Advocate of the Courts of Judicature; a Jurist and Philosopher; a Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public, and Senior Legal Consultant.

He is the founder and Managing Partner of M/s Twinobusingye Severino & Co. Advocates. He is the President of the Catholic Lawyers Society International and the Chairperson of the Executive Council of the same organization. He is the Chairperson of the University Council of Karamoja Peace and Technology University.

He served as a Legal Consultant and Law Don at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi 2022 to 2023 and lectured Labour Law, The Law of Sale of Goods, Criminology, and Penology.

An accomplished Advocate, Twinobusingye Severino specializes in Constitutional Litigation, Electoral Matters, Mining Law, International Law, International Trade and Commerce, Investment, Governance, Human Rights, and Strategic Litigation.

Born on September 21, 1969, in Kigarama, Nyamirama Town Council, Kinkizi West, Kanungu District, Western Uganda, Twinobusingye Severino, the second last born of Mr. Byabagambi Didas and Leonarda Kamariza; in a family of eight, was raised up and socialized in the culture and traditions of the Bakiga. The Bakiga tribe of Western Uganda are a very hard working people.

Before enrolling for formal education, the young Twinobusingye Severino was tasked with tending to cows and goats, collecting firewood, and fetching water; the typical responsibilities for boys among the Bakiga culture and traditions.

Besides, he was raised in the devout Roman Catholic family where he also served as an altar boy and also participated in the life of the church as a member of the Eucharist Crusaders. The Comboni Missionaries were in charge of Kambuga Parish where Nyamirama Sub Parish belonged.

From his participation in the life of the Catholic Church at an early age, Twinobusingye appreciated the spirit of service and hard work. This inculcated in him the desire to become an Advocate so as to challenge the injustices he witnessed in his community at the time. Growing up during the sectarian leadership of President Apollo Milton Obote and witnessing the reign of terror of President Idi Amin, he understood early enough that he had to study and become an Advocate and make his contribution as the champion and defender of the Rule of Law and Justice.

Twinobusingye Severino attended Kaniabizo Primary School from 1979 to 1980 for his Primary one and two. He had to walk close to 30 kilometers to and from school daily.  He could not study in the nearby Anglican school at Nyamirama because the school administration denied him admission because he was a Roman Catholic. Religious sectarianism between Anglicans and Roman Catholics was the norm at the time. He recalls, it was so bad and so painful an experience to go through.

Kaniabizo Primary School was the only Roman Catholic School near him within Nyamirama Sub-County at the time. The detestable sectarian politics of the 1980s really pitted Ugandan Anglicans and Roman Catholics against each other to the extent of denying school admission to pupils and students of differing religious beliefs was deemed by the ruling Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) Political leaders as normal.

Between 1981 and 1986, he attended St. Peters Katete Primary School in Kambuga, where he completed his Primary Leaving Examinations in 1986. The Primary Leaving Exams for schools in Western Uganda were delayed due to the ongoing National Resistance Army guerrilla war which had blockaded Western Uganda, making it impossible for Students and Pupils to sit for their PLE exams. Eventually, the exams were conducted in 1986 after the situation had improved.

Between 1986 and 1992, he attended the Apostles of Jesus Bukinda Seminary in Kabale District, where he obtained his Uganda Certificate of Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.

After A level, between 1992 to 1996, he taught briefly as a License Teacher. He taught English Language, Literature in English and European History at Nyakinoni Senior Secondly School Nyamirama, Kihihi High School in Kihihi Town Council, St. Pius High School Nyamwegabira in Kihihi Town Council and St Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School Kambuga. All these schools are in Kanungu District.

True to his dream, he quit teaching and decided to first pursue a Diploma in law at the Law Development Centre Kampala from 1996 to 1997 where he graduated with a first class Diploma in Law.

He then immediately proceeded from 1997 to 2000, and joined Katigondo National Major Seminary, where he pursued and graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy with Honors Degree of Makerere University and a Distinction Diploma in Philosophy of Katigondo National Major Seminary.

He then decided to first work at the Ministry of Health on a World Bank Project as a Project Consultant for the Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Project (NECDP/C.H.I.L. D) in charge of Rukungiri and Kanungu Districts 2002 to 2003.

He then pursued Law at Makerere University School of Law between 2003 and 2007 where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honors Degree of Makerere University.

He pursued a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre between 2007 and 2008 and successfully graduated in 2010 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

On the 3^rd of August, 2011, he was called to the bar and enrolled as an Advocate of the Courts of Judicature of Uganda. The function took place at the High Court of Uganda at Buganda Road in Kampala. This was the fulfilment of his long cherished dream of becoming an Advocate and defender of Justice and the Rule of Law.

In order to be more effective and efficient in executing his dream as the defender of Justice and the Rule of law, he opened his chambers M/s Twinobusingye Severino & Co. Advocates on the 25^th Day of June, 2012 and has continued to practice todate with practice networks across the globe.

Later, in 2014, he returned to Makerere and graduated with a Master of Laws Degree of Makerere University with a specialization in Mining Law.

During his school years, Twinobusingye stood out as a skilled debater and a leader from a very young age. Debating provided him with an early opportunity to develop his public speaking skills. In Primary Six at St. Peters Katete Primary School Kambuga, he was elected as the Head Prefect.

During his time at the Apostles of Jesus Bukinda Seminary Kabale from 1986 to 1992, he held various leadership positions. He served as the Prayer Leader, Sacristan, Editor of the Seminary Magazine, Prefect for Social Affairs, Chairman of the Debate Club and Chairman of the Drama Club.

He further gained early public leadership experience from his responsibilities where he was elected unopposed and served as the District Youth Councilor for Nyamirama Sub-County in Rukungiri District Youth Council from 1993 to 1996.

From 1992 to 1996, he was introduced into public service where he served as a Political Assistant to the Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi SC who was the Director General of External Security Organization and who was later elected as a 1994 -1995 Constituent Assembly Delegate for Kinkizi West.

During the 1996 Uganda Presidential Elections, Presidential Candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed Twinobusingye Severino as his Publicity Secretary on the Kinkizi West Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Presidential Election Force. Being identified and given such a task by the Head of State was a mark of confidence in his leadership abilities. As a matter of fact, Kinkizi West Constituency gave Presidential Candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the highest percentage of votes cast in the whole of Uganda at the 1996 Presidential Election.

While a student at the Law Development Centre, 1996 to 1997, he was elected and served as the Guild Minister for Cabinet Affairs at the Law Development Centre Students Guild. As a student, he was under Uganda State House Scholarship.

As a student at Katigondo National Major Seminary, he was elected as the Arch Dean and Chairman for the College of Deans at Katigondo National Major Seminary 1999 to 2000.

Twinobusingye Severino extensive studies are evidence of distinction, talent and ability. His research has resulted in a wealth of knowledge.

**In 2022, as a partial requirement for the award of a Master of Laws Degree from Makerere University, he wrote a dissertation titled: “An Assessment of the Legal Regime Governing the Mining Industry in Uganda”. During his Master of Laws field research study, he discovered the hardships faced by the people of Karamoja Sub Region. This experience eventually led him to think of championing the establishment of Karamoja Peace and Technology University as an intervention to address the challenges of underdevelopment in Karamoja.

As a matter of fact, Karamoja Peace and Technology University is the first University in the Ateker Region in 570 years since 18^th June 1452.

18^th June 1452 is the date and the year that Pope Nicholas V issued the Papal Bull of Discovery called Dum Diversas. It was addressed to King Alfonso V of Portugal, it recognized Portugal’s rights to territories it had discovered along the West African Coast and the reduction of the infidels and non-Christians territories to perpetual vassals of the Christian Monarch.

Another Papal Bull of Discovery called Inter Caetera was issued by Pope Alexander VI on 4^th May 1493. This Papal Bull had been originally published by Pope Alexander VI on 2^nd May 1493. This Papal Bull granted to the Catholic Monarchs King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile all lands to the “West and South “of a Pole -to -Pole line 100 leagues West and South of any of the Islands of the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands. In effect, it authorized Spain and Portugal to colonize the Americas and its native peoples as subjects. The decree asserted the rights of Spain and Portugal to colonize, convert and enslave. It also justified the enslavement of Africans.

These Papal bulls of Discovery authorized colonial powers such as Spain and Portugal to seize lands and subjugate people in Africa and the new world as long as people on the lands were not Christians and were enemies of Christ. This included the right to take their belongings, including their land, and reduce them to perpetual servitude. This doctrine of discovery was repudiated by the Vatican in 2023.

The underdevelopment that is in the Ateker Region therefore has its origin from these Papal Bulls.

Karamoja has therefore finally received its first university 147 years since June 1877 after Christianity was first introduced in Uganda.

**In 2007, as part of the requirements for the award of the Bachelor of Laws Degree from Makerere University, Twinobusingye Severino wrote a dissertation titled “A Critique of the Parliamentary Elections Law and Its Impact on Democracy in Uganda: A Case Study of the 2006 Parliamentary Election”.

**In 2000, Twinobusingye Severino also wrote a dissertation titled “The Contribution of the Justice and Peace Commission to the Legal Rights of the People in Kabale Diocese”, a Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Diploma in Philosophy of Katigondo National Major Seminary.

**In 1997, he wrote a dissertation titled “The Legal Operation of Local Councils and Democratic Governance in Uganda”. This was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Diploma in Law of the Law Development Centre.

Twinobusingye Severino’s academic record is a testament to his exceptional intelligence, talents and abilities. Throughout his studies, he has displayed remarkable aptitude that sets him apart. His unique qualities make him a valuable asset to any endeavor that he undertakes.

Twinobusingye Severino has dedicated his career to the pursuit of Justice, the Rule of Law, leadership in the legal and academic provinces.

From 2000 to 2001, he worked as a National Resource Person for the National Constitutional Review Project funded by the European Union and implemented by Uganda Gender Resource Centre, Kampala.

Between 2001 and 2002, he was the Project Consultant and Manager for the Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Project (NECDP/C. H. I. L. D) in charge of Rukungiri and Kanungu Districts.

He then joined the Uganda National Electoral Commission as an Election Management Officer from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 to 2010, he served as a Legal Officer and he then left the service of the National Electoral Commission in 2011 to join Private Legal Practice as an Advocate. This experience fostered his deep understanding and appreciation of democratic processes, the theory and praxis of the law.

Since 2011, Twinobusingye Severino has built a Legal Career Path and has had profound achievements and milestones along the way. He is the founder and Managing Partner of a law firm called M/s Twinobusingye Severino & Co. Advocates based in Kampala.

From 2014 to 2015, Twinobusingye Severino served as a Legal Consultant for Investments at Makerere University, Kampala. He was also the Company Secretary of Uganda Martyrs Shrines Redevelopment Ltd and Legal Counsel on the Special Committee for the preparation of the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Uganda.

He has held important leadership positions in the Uganda Law Society, including becoming the Chairman of the Human Rights and Governance Cluster between 2016 and 2017, Member of the Strategic Litigation Committee from 2017 to 2018, and the Chairman of the Judicial Affairs Committee of Uganda Law Society from 2020 to 2022.

During his tenure as the Chairman of Judicial Affairs Committee he worked with the President of the Uganda Law Society Ms. Pheona Nabaasa Wall and the Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny Dollo and ensured that each District in Uganda gets a High Court Judge, Chief Magistrate and each Constituency gets a Magistrate Grade one stationed there. This was a profound achievement for his committee and the entire Uganda Law Society.

Beyond legal practice, Twinobusingye Severino has demonstrated a strong commitment to education and leadership. From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at Poullart Des Places Senior Secondary School Nyamirama in Kanungu District. From 2014 to 2022, he served as Secretary for Justice & Peace at the Nyamirama Catholic Parish Council in Kabale Catholic Diocese.

From 2018 to 2019, he served as a Private Legal Consultant to the late Governor Tumusiime Mutebire, Governor of the Bank of Uganda concerning the closure of some Commercial Banks in Uganda such as the defunct National Bank of Commerce and Green Land Bank.

After the outbreak of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021, he served as Private Legal Consultant to the Inter-Ministerial (GoU) Technical Committee for the control of the spread of the Covid19 Pandemic in Uganda.

From 2018 to date, Twinobusingye Severino has been the Legal Consultant for the Government of Uganda on the case of DRC Vs Uganda: The case was filed by the DRC at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Mr. Twinobusingye continues to demonstrate sound leadership qualities through various roles. From 2020 to date, he has served as the President and Chair Executive Council for the Catholic Lawyers Society International. This is a multinational, multi ethnic, multi-racial and multi-disciplinary global, organization. He is also the Editor-In-Chief of the Catholic Lawyers Society International Justice Journal and the Catholic Lawyers Society International Law Report.

From 2023 to date, Twinobusingye Severino serves as a Board Member of The Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU).

From 2023 to date, Twinobusingye Severino serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Kotido Catholic Diocese.

Twinobusingye Severino is a member of the Uganda Law Society, the East Africa Law Society, the Catholic Lawyers Society International and the Uganda Catholic Lawyers Society.

As a firm believer and courageous individual, Twinobusingye Severino has demonstrated the determination and courage to confront oppression and injustice in any form. It is these legal battles that have shaped his Legal Professional Career Path. This is the justification for his engagement in championing the establishment of Karamoja Peace and Technology University in Karamoja Sub-Region in Uganda.

He says the Karamoja Sub-Region has been left behind for more than 570 years since the colonization and enslavement of Africans that began on 18^th June 1452, the date on which Pope Nicholas V signed the Papal Bull Dum Diversas as well as Inter Caetera by Pope Alexander VI on the 4^th May 1493.

While much progress has been made, making sure many Africans are decolonized, Karamoja has lagged behind for very long. That’s why he decided to commit part of his legal practice to the service of Kotido Catholic Diocese by rendering pro bono service to the diocese and leading the establishment of a university in Karamoja as a tool for de-colonization of the Karamoja Sub Region.

Therefore, working towards establishing Karamoja Peace and Technology University to promote Justice, human rights and the rule of law is one of his greatest achievements.

The strategic objective of this university is to foster peace and sustainable development in the sub-region of Karamoja and the Great Lakes Region in general.

He and other co-founders of Karamoja Peace and Technology University are strongly convinced beyond human contradiction and believe that working with all stakeholders, Karamoja Peace and Technology University will trigger accelerated social-economic transformation and integral human development for the people, the sub-region of Karamoja, Ateker Region, the Great Lakes Region and Africa in general.

His Excellency Gen. Rtd. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda is the Founding Chancellor of the university; Her Excellency Maj. Rtd. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda is the Founding Deputy Chancellor and Chief Promoter of the University; His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu MCCJ, the Bishop of Kotido Catholic Diocese is the Founding University President while Mr. Twinobusingye Severino, The President of the Catholic Lawyers Society International is the Founding Chairperson of the University Council.

Karamoja Peace and Technology University will serve as a catalyst for mindset change and transformation of the Karamoja sub-region and enhance the accelerated socio-economic development and transformation of Karamoja, Uganda and the Great Lakes Region.

From 2018 to date, Twinobusingye Severino was instructed as Lead Legal Consultant for the Government of Uganda in the Reparations Case Concerning Armed Activities on the territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda) at the International Court of Justice at The Hague (ICJ).

The history of the proceedings is that on 23^rd June 1999, the DRC filed in the Registry of the International Court of Justice an application instituting proceedings against Uganda for the aggression by Uganda on the territory of the DRC in violation of the United Nations Charter and other international treaties and Conventions.

Uganda submitted three counterclaims two of which were found by the ICJ to be admissible. In the judgment of 19^th December 2005, the ICJ found Uganda to have violated certain obligations incumbent on it under international law and that it was under obligation to make reparations for the injury caused to the DRC.

On the 9^th of February, 2022, the ICJ ordered Uganda to pay the DRC reparations of $325 million payable in five annual installments of $65 million starting September 2022.

The ICJ had ruled that Uganda should pay United States Dollars $10 billion demanded by the DRC. This figure was eventually exponentially raised to $74.9 billion. However, after mediation between the two sister states, the figure was substantially reduced to United States Dollars $325 million. This was a profound achievement for Uganda.

In 2016, he was co-counsel for the Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi SC, the Petitioner in the Supreme Court of Uganda in the case of Amama Mbabazi vs. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Electoral Commission & the Attorney General, Presidential Election Petition No. 01 of 2016. The law of structural injunction was restated. The Attorney General was given timelines within which to report back to court. The office of the Attorney General was defined as the ‘father of the law’.

In 2011, Mr. Twinobusingye Severino successfully petitioned the Constitutional Court of Uganda in the case of Twinobusingye Severino v. the Attorney General of Uganda, Constitutional Petition No. 47 of 2011. He secured an injunction against the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda for the first time in Uganda’s jurisprudence. Twinobusingye Severino vs. Attorney General is now a locus classicus in Constitutional Jurisprudence. The said decision also defined parameters for the separation of powers of Government between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.