Senior Counsel John Winston Katende has launched his autobiography titled ‘A Man of Many Firsts’, which shares treasured lessons from a multi-talented lawyer, teacher, artist and innovator.
Katende, a co-founding partner of KATS – Katende, Ssempebwa & Co Advocates, is a seasoned lawyer with a wealth of legal and business experience gathered over his many years of practice.
“I want to thank His Majesty, the Kabaka of Buganda for writing the foreword in the book which he signed,” he said during the launch held at Aristoc Booklex, Acacia Mall in Kamwokya, Kampala on Monday.
“I also want to thank the numerous contributors and the author. I also want to thank my colleague Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa, we have been together for many years. I also want to thank my family and particularly my wife.”
Katende’s wife is the owner of the Aristoc and the other branches.
“She is a very good lady and I am very proud to have her as a wife,” he revealed.
While presiding over the launch, the Former Chief Justice, His Lordship Bart Katureebe who was the Chief Guest, praised Katende for having been a “colourful lecturer” to his students.
“We who were students of John Katende, characterized him as a colourful lecturer. He kept the class alert and that’s what we liked. As a teacher, you would not want to miss his class. You would look forward to going to his class because it was entertaining and educational.”
Katureebe said some people think they are successful when they have big sums of money in their bank accounts, abroad and here, among other aspects.
“However, some people are only interested in how they positively impact others,” he noted, adding:
“I want to congratulate the authors and publishers of the book. Thank you for taking the initiative of putting together someone’s story when they are still alive.”
Joseph Kigozi, a Sports Broadcaster at NBS TV who hosted the event, described the book launch as “a very important day in the history of this country because we are launching an incredible book by an incredible man who has not only been part of Uganda’s history for the last 50 years but had also made history”.
On his part, Rev Daniel Steven Kimbugwe Kajumba said the book was written to show particularly young people that anything is possible if you dare.
“If Katende can make it, why can’t you? In the book, he shows us that if you are focused, disciplined, and intentional, you can make it. We can learn so many lessons from him.”
Kajumba described Katende as “a perfectionist, genius and in many ways a true renaissance man”.
“There is so much we share in common with John Katende that I wondered whether we should have a DNA carried out, you never know he might be a Prince like me. He is also a very patient man, but he also doesn’t suffer fools gladly,” he added.
Author and researcher, Ronald Nabimanya called Katende “a fantastic subject to study and learn from”.
“It took me two years to gather inspirational material about John Katende. During the two years, I started gathering ideas of how I would approach this busy man who has mentored the biggest number of lawyers and entertainers we have in Uganda,” he noted.
According to Katende’s son, Sim Katende, in the book, so many people talk about the things his father has done for them.
“In the book, you will find out the things that made him do what he did. Not a week goes by before I meet somebody who as soon as I introduce myself, asks if I am John Katende’s son,” he stated.
He added: “John Katende is not a politician, sports figure, or public figure. How is it many people speak very highly of him? That is because of the value system he has taught and humility.”
Katende’s partner, Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa, wished him more years of life and success.
“I wish my colleague (John W. Katende) many more years of life, success, and service to this country.”