Judges suspend strike as they decry routine transfers

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Judges have voiced their displeasure with the current mode of routine transfers, saying it is demotivating and lacks transparency.

This was expressed by the Uganda Judicial officers Association (UJOA) President Godfrey Kaweesa, who is also the Mukono Court Chief Magistrate, at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the High Court grounds in Kampala.

Kaweesa who was elected for the second term with 127 votes against Mukono High Court Judge Margret Mutonyi’s 80 votes, says there are officers who for over 15 years in service have never worked in Kampala where their families are located, while others have never worked in upcountry stations.

Kaweesa who was recently transferred from Iganga to Mukono proposed that the policy should take into account the principles of natural justice, where by judicial officers should be consulted, briefed about a planned transfer and agree on swapping stations.

The judicial officers also want a committee to be set up to handle appeals of judicial officers who could be aggrieved by transfers.

They resolved to suspend their strike until the next financial year, having achieved the objectives.

One his part the Deputy Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo tasked the judicial officers to safe guard their integrity while executing their work.