Pius Bigirimana, the Secretary to the Judiciary, has warned that court operations may be halted if the Ministry of Finance fails to release funds to settle outstanding rent. The delays have, at times, forced him to divert resources meant for other judicial functions to cover rent arrears.
While appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on February 26, 2025, Bigirimana addressed concerns raised in the 2024 Auditor General’s report, which indicated that UGX 790 million had been spent on rent arrears, despite the amount not being factored into the Judiciary’s annual budget.
“If the funds are not released, the only option will be to shut down the courts and relocate the judges. I will not act outside the law, so if the offices must be closed, I am prepared to face the consequences,” Bigirimana asserted.
Tororo District Woman Representative Sarah Opendi defended Bigirimana, arguing that government officials should be allowed to openly express the challenges they face in managing public institutions.
“We should allow people to voice their concerns. I see no problem with the Accounting Officer speaking candidly about the difficulties he encounters. He has a right to express his frustrations,” Opendi remarked.
She further cautioned that if landlords move forward with evictions, it could severely disrupt judicial services. With many courts in Uganda operating from rented spaces, closures would cause case backlogs, prolonged hearings, and limited access to justice.
The crisis highlights the urgent need to accelerate the construction of government-owned court facilities. While significant progress has been made, including the near-completion of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal buildings, many lower courts still rely on rented premises.
The government has outlined a plan to expand judicial infrastructure under its Judiciary Strategic Plan (2025/26–2029/30), but setbacks in implementation continue to exacerbate the existing challenges.
