JUDICIARY: 11 Resident Chief Magistrates posted at new stations

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Judiciary has deployed Resident Chief Magistrates in 11 different courts across the country which initially had visiting ones due to shortage of judicial officers.

This is in the latest deployment of 161 judicial officers and 44 transfers communicated in a press statement signed by the Judiciary’s Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu on Thursday.

Langa says that the deployments have seen areas like Kajjansi, Amuru, Kiruhura, Katakwi, Buhweju, Rakai, Kisoro, Dokolo, Mayuge, Kiryandongo and Sironko getting resident Chief Magistrates for the first time.

In the deployments, Mukuuto and Namungalwe sub-counties in Iganga Ddistrict and Buvuma Island have equally got Magistrates Grade One.

In the same development, the Chief Registrar states that of the 161 deployed judicial officers, five are Acting Deputy Registrars, four Acting Assistant Registrars, 40 Acting Chief Magistrates, 10 Acting Senior Principal Magistrates Grade One, 20 Acting Principal Magistrates Grade One and 30 are Acting Senior Magistrates Grade One and 52 Magistrates Grade One.

She indicates that the judiciary has also deployed 52 Magistrates Grade One and 45 of these are on probation while 6 are in acting positions.

According to her statement, the deployments will take immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar has also transferred Four Deputy Registrars, 13 Chief Magistrates and 27 Magistrates Grade One which changes will be effective July 25, 2022.

Notable among the transfers are Deputy Registrars James Ereemye Mawanda from Mbale to the Registry of Magistrates’ Affairs, Eleanor Mary Khainza from Magistrates Affairs to the Mediation Registry, and Moses Angualia from the Judicial Training Institute to the Inspectorate of Courts.

But according to Sarah Langa, the judicial officers in acting capacity will be assessed after one year for confirmation based on the satisfaction of the duties and responsibilities and the set key performing indicators which include among others, disposal of 400 cases for Acting Registrars, 600 for Acting Chief Magistrates, 400 for Acting Senior Principals, Principal and Senior Magistrate Grade ones and 300 cases for new Magistrates Grade One.

“Service with integrity, zero tolerance to corruption and improvement of the Judiciary image are other parameters in the Key Performing Indicators. Magistrates Grade One deployed in Chambers of Justices and Judges have also been given specific Key Performing Indicators”, reads the statement.

The Chief Registrar observed that the deployments are intended to bring about efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of justice. She equally urged the new officers to love the Judiciary Service, respect court users and shun corruption, laziness, absenteeism and delayed justice that still undermine the image of the Judiciary. She urged them to be the change they want to see in the Judiciary service.

The newly appointed/promoted judicial officers will undergo induction for two weeks to equip them with the necessary skills to perform their duties.

The new Judicial officers who have been deployed were appointed last month by the Judicial Service Commission.

Their recruitment and subsequent deployment comes at the time when the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has over and over again said that he dreams of a Judiciary where each sub-county will have a Magistrates Court and Ugandans will not have to travel for long distances to seek justice in courts like it is at the moment.

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