New judicial officers challenged to end 43,000 case backlog

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Newly appointed High Court registrars have been called upon to assist the judiciary in reducing the backlog and ensure timely dispensation of justice. According to the Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa Siu, the judiciary currently faces a backlog of 43,617 cases that have been in the system for many years.

In Uganda, a case is considered backlogged if it has spent more than two years in the justice system without being concluded by the courts of law. Langa made these remarks while officiating at the swearing-in ceremony of 8 new judicial officers, including six Registrars and two Grade One Magistrates.

They are Gorret Arinaitwe, Ivan Nkwasibwe, Asiziya Suzan Musoli, Rogers Kinobe Binega, Agnes Mutatina Natukunda, Juliet Komugisha, Alison Nasasira, and Joseph Omara Sabitti, who have taken the oath as Grade One Magistrates.

Langa welcomed the officers into the Judiciary family and urged them to give their best to ensure the delivery of justice to the people of Uganda. She also emphasized the importance of respecting the hierarchy in the judiciary and recognizing the value of those who work below them, such as clerks.

At the same event, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo urged the officers to be ambassadors of the new Judiciary in the areas they will serve. He stressed the importance of delivering judgments in a timely manner and handling bail applications conscientiously.

He also reminded them of the responsibility to ensure that individuals sent to jail deserve to be there. “Let us timely deliver our judgments and let us deal with bail applications promptly and conscientiously. Bail should not be unreasonably denied by imposing impossible terms, but the Court must always guard against absconding.

Accused persons due for mandatory release should be timely processed and sent to the High Court, which should also act promptly,” said the Chief Justice.   Principal Judge Dr. Zeija called upon the new officers to uphold high standards of conduct both in their professional and personal lives, as their behavior reflects on the entire Judiciary. He emphasized the need to conduct themselves beyond reproach in all matters, big and small.

“There is a high level of conduct expected from a judicial officer both in matters big and small. Both in public and to some extent, in private life. Your decorum as a judicial officer determines public perception not only about you as an individual but also about the entire Judiciary. The principle that you should conduct yourself in a manner beyond reproach always applies to all matters great and small,” said the Principal Judge.

Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera promised that the Judicial Training Institute would conduct orientation and induction seminars to teach the new officers about judicial culture, etiquette, norms, and values. He encouraged them to actively participate in these seminars and strive to become good judicial officers.

“You will learn and understand what it takes to be a good Judicial Officer. As new Judicial Officers you need to incorporate yourselves quickly into the Judiciary family in which we work together to solve the bottlenecks in the delivery of Justice to the people of Uganda, “said Buteera.

Buteera also highlighted the Judiciary’s goals of enhancing equitable access to Judiciary Services, improving Court Process and Case Management, and strengthening ICT. In conclusion, Buteera encouraged the new officers to brand themselves effectively, seek knowledge when needed, and write high-quality decisions.

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