CHIEF JUSTICE DECRIES DELAYS IN COURT PROCESS

By Byamukama Libino

KISORO

The Chief Justice of Uganda Alfonse Owiny-Dollo  has termed delayed case judgements among Ugandan courts as scandalous as most Ugandans ran to the courts of law to seek immediate justice.

Dollo made the remarks today at Kisoro Chief Magistrate court during an engagement meeting with district leaders and stakeholders about the transformation agenda for the judiciary.

Dollo says that he is more bothered with genuine rural based Ugandans suffering because their cases take so many years in courts of law due to a number of reasons that are avoidable.

He noted that under new innovations in the Judiciary that include digital case management, supervision, creation of grade one courts at the constituency level and appropriation of facilities among all districts, justice will be achieved.

Owinyi Dollo says that he wants justice to wait for people rather than people waiting for justice in the transformation agenda and Kisoro has already benefited two grade one magistrates in Cyanika and Bunagana town councils while the district has got a chief magistrate.  He noted that the president has also backed him to have grade one magistrate courts extended to the sub county level in the near future.

He warned that by the time the transformation agenda is realised, Magistrates and judges will be highly supervised to ensure that there is no case being delayed in court.

The permanent secretary in the Judiciary, Pius Bingirimana commended the chief Justice for accepting to post a chief magistrate to Kisoro chief Magistrate court. He said that Rubuguri will also have a grade one court in a few months because the terrain of Kisoro makes it costly to access court services in Kisoro.

The Kisoro Grade one court Magistrate, Raphael Vueni introduced the new Chief magistrate, Kenneth Komakechi and said that he will improve service delivery. He demanded for more fleets of vehicles. He requested that the Cyanika grade one magistrate be given support staff as well as the Kisoro Chief Magistrate court.

Meanwhile, stakeholders commended the plans by the judiciary to enhance service delivery. They commended the grade one magistrate for his wise handling of cases which has contained harmony and appealed for his promotion.

The Kabale Resident Judge, Moses Kawumi appealed to the top Judiciary management to influence the parliament to pass the legal aid service bill to enable the poor access legal services in courts. He also noted that he is tired of murders in the region that result from alcoholism.