Chief Justice asks new judges to enhance access to judicial services

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has asked the newly appointed judges of the High Court and Constitutional Court, to focus on enhancing access to justice while exercising their judicial duties.

The Chief Justice made the remarks on Monday evening while presiding over the one week induction of newly appointed judges of the Constitutional Court and the High Court, which commenced at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.

The Constitutional Court judges being inducted are; Justice Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, Irene Mulyagonja, Monica Kalyegira Mugenyi, Christopher Gashirabake, and Lady Justice Eva Luswata.

At the High Court, judges being inducted include; Lady Justice Margaret Apiny, Florence Nakachwa, Tom Chemtai, Vincent Wagona and Lawrence Tweyanze.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for their induction, the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo informed the judges  that they are obliged to meet a number of strategic objectives in line with the judiciary’s strategic plan four for the coming five financial years.

Owiny-Dollo revealed such objectives as to enhance equitable access to judiciary services, improve court processes and case management, improve public awareness and the image of the judiciary, improve coordination partnerships and accountability among others.

The Chief Justice further asked the judges while adjudicating for both civil and criminal nature, to bear in mind the guiding principles to the effect that justice should be done to all people irrespective of their social or economic status, justice should not be delayed and also to award adequate compensation to victims of wrong without fear, favour or ill will.

Owiny-Dollo added that if effective justice is to be dispensed, the judges should also not forget to be independent, impartial and also exercise propriety, equality, competence and diligence as per their judicial code of conduct.

For his part, the Principal Judge Dr Flavian Zeija tasked the inductees not to allow any room for errors and asked them to restore public confidence in the Judiciary and to maintain their ethics and integrity. This was in a speech read on his behalf by the Head of the Civil Division of High Court, Justice Musa Ssekaana.

Apart from case management issues, the inductees are being oriented about judicial independence and accountability, the bar-bench relationship, management of retirement, collegiality at work, the operations of the East African Court of Justice, the use of electronic and digital evidence, judgment writing techniques, stress management, ethics and integrity, protocol and etiquette, among others.

The eleven Judges are being inducted by a number of experts on the said sectors, majority of whom are the renowned senior judicial officers such as, Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, Justice  Egonda-Ntende, Lady Justice  Stella Arach Amoko among others.

These are also together with prominent city lawyers such as Dan Wandera Ogalo, Joseph Kyazze, and the head of Litigation at the Electoral Commission Eric Sabiiti, who are supposed to share with them more about their experiences at the bar and their expectations while appearing before the Judge.

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