MASINDI HIGH COURT JUDGE SUSPENDS CRIMINAL SESSION OVER LACK OF FUNDS

By Yosam Gucwaki

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi

Masindi high court visiting judge Wilson Musalu Musene has suspended the criminal session at Masindi high court citing lack of money.

Justice Musene announced the suspension while presiding over high court hearing at Masindi high court today.

Musene who is the Fort Portal resident judge noted that the money for one week session was provided to Masindi high court registrar Simon Kintu Zirintusa but the money could not be accessed and both the registrar and cashier could not be seen.

He added that the session could not proceed when the witnesses were not going to be paid, revealing that his driver and body guard had not also received the money.

 He added that he had been informed that the registrar was abroad and he had called the registrar in Kampala but he did not answer his call. He therefore informed all those who had cases in court to wait for a communication after the registrar in Kampala handles the matter.

Justice Musene described the incidence as a big blow to Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) more so at a time when the country has renewed efforts to fight corruption in the country.

Some of the witnesses who had come to testify in the cases said they had traveled long distances including Kabale and  Obonngi districts said that they had spent three days in Masindi but they had not been given their transport refund, feeding and accommodation allowances.

Another witness from Kabale district said he was demanding 200,000 shillings as facilitation that he had not got.