Latest Posts

Judiciary To Recruit More 122 Judges, Judicial Officers

The government is seeking to recruit 122 senior judicial officers, among them 11 judges and 27 registrars, deputies and assistants, to bolster capacity for fast-tracking justice administration countrywide.

According to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the agency that recruits, remunerates and disciplines judicial officials, up to 71 grade one magistrate and 13 chief magistrate positions are up for grabs.

The successful individuals will first serve on a one or two-year contract, according to JSC, mirroring probationary recruitment of judicial officers reintroduced with President Museveni’s May appointment of 16 High Court judges on an initial two-year contract.

This planned enlistment of 11 new High Court judges will increase their numbers to 83, closing the manpower gap in line with Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo’s priority to extend judicial services nearer to the people through establishment of additional court circuits.

High courts, for instance, try capital offences, and insiders say a higher number of judges on the lower bench presents opportunity for accelerated clearance of related case backlog blamed for inmates’ crowding in prisons.

“We are excited to see the number of vacancies advertised, this will help dispense quick justice, and we all know justice delayed is justice denied. However, we still have a way to go and still need more judicial officers, especially staff in the High Court,” Mr Martin Asingwire, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) vice president,  said.

While pitching for additional staffing in especially the High Courts, Mr Asingwire added: “We also need to increase efficiency, especially through the recent developments in ICT like the Electronic Court Case Management Information System .”

The Judiciary spokesperson, Mr Jameson Karemani, welcomed the planned recruitment as timely for improving citizens’ access to justice.

“This is a big boost for the Judiciary. It improves access to justice for Ugandans and definitely will see the backlog drastically reduce. We are on the right track,” he said.

According to Ms Sarah Langa, the chief registrar, the increasing number of judicial officers places the Judiciary on course to achieve its target of establishing a Court of Appeal in each region, more High Court circuits, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in every district and a Grade One Magistrate’s Court in every constituency.

“[This is] all in a continuous effort to reduce backlog,” she said.

Highly-placed sources told this newspaper that the Judiciary has accelerated recruitments in line with Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo’s vision to take portals for justice access to the last mile.

Under his administration, the number of Supreme Court justices has doubled to 20, there are now 55 judges at Court of Appeal up from 14, while High Court judges will, following the new recruitments, number 83.

This will still be lower than the 150 judges that the Judiciary Council has recommended.

Targeted judicial officials

According to the council blueprint, the number of chief magistrates and grade one magistrates in the country should increase from 100 to 160 and from 386 to 514, respectively, but there is no timeline to the target. The Judiciary currently has 72 judges, 77 chief magistrates and 301 grade one magistrates — the highest ever in the country’s history. In comments made last year, Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo said a case would be disposed of within a year if each district had a magistrate.

Loading

Don't Miss

EXPOSED! Muyenga Tycoon’s Maid Cited In Land Wrangle

In recent days, Muyenga, Y2K Zone a push Kampala suburb,

Parliament Orders Closure Of Fuelex Petrol Stations For Adulterating Fuel

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade And Industry led by Mbarara

Big Story: Parliament Probes UETCL Bosses Over Corruption, Mismanagement & Controversial UGX 28Billion Compensation Deal

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment and Natural

‘Back Off Buganda Land’ Kabaka Mutebi Castigates People Pushing For Abolition Of Mailo Land Tenure System

The Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has

Big Story: IGG Probes Over Shs1bn Ubos Fraud

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating top officials

EXPLOSIVE: How Speaker Kadaga & Confidant Hon. Okupa Spent Over US $764,000 (Shs2.8 BN) In-less Than 2 Years In Travels Abroad

Since taking office as Deputy Speaker of Parliament way back

Ham Vs DTB Appeal: Bank Of Uganda Runs Out Of Case, Leaves DTB To Carry Its Own Cross

Bank of Uganda has officially quit the case involving city

Amnesty International Joins Push To Free Presidential Runner Robert Kyagulanyi

The Ugandan authorities must immediately lift the police and military

Exporters Call For Strong Action Against EAC States’ Trade Barriers

Manufacturers have called on the government to impose tough measures

Big Story: How KCCA Officials Messed Up Youth Fund Programs, Stole Billions of Gov’t Funds In Shoddy Deals

Kampala: If there is any government Authority that frustrating President

I Predict Museveni, NRM Victory In 2021 Elections

By Faruk Kirunda Kampala: As we dive into the high

Crisis: Lord Mayor Lukwago Defies Court Order, Appoints Balondemu As Chairman K’la District Land Board

Veteran lawyer Hajji Elias Lukwago, who is the Kampala city

Scandal: Stanbic Bank Bosses Allegedly Steal Borrowers’ Land Titles, Mortgage Them To Dfcu Bank

Several officials at Stanbic Bank are in deep trouble after

Scandal: KCCA Officials On Spot For Blowing Shs 8Bn Under The Guise Of Renovating Old Tax Park

Several officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), are

Covid-19 Crisis: Ugandan Students Expected To Sit For UNEB Exams In March 2021

All indications are that a dead year will not be

BoU To Appeal In Supreme Court Over Trashed Crane Bank Case

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) has said it will be

Shame As Top Police Boss Is Convicted Of Car Theft, Ordered To Pay Over Shs282M

Untold shame has engulfed the Uganda Police a senior officer

Just In! Energy Mafias Rock Parliament As Patriotic Young Turks Question AIGP Akullo’s Involvement In Min. Energy Corruption

Panic has rocked Parliament as renowned Parliamentarian and Lawyer Hon.

Energy Mafias Debunked Part III: How Werikhe, Turyagyenda Corruptly Swindled Shs15 Bn For 3 Electricity Distribution Projects In Acholi, Bunyoro & Kiruhura

FUNDING THE COUP THROUGH ENERGY AND MINERALS CORRUPTION By the

Just In: Top Energy Officials Fired On Presidential Orders Over Massive Theft Of Electricity Distribution Funds

By Our Reporter Kampala: Two senior officials of Rural Electrification

Salary Scam Hits KCCA AS 29bn Is Paid To Ghost Workers

After Eng Andrew Kitata took over as the acting Executive

DS Tayebwa Orders Energy Ministry To Submit Supplementary Budget For Karuma Hydro Project Claimants

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has instructed the Ministry of Energy

Can’t Be Part Of Your Downfall: Rukh-Shana Throws In Towel After Four Agitated Years At Staggering DFCU

Rukh-Shana Namuyimba has resigned her role as DFCU Manager Communications