Judicial officers asked to release certified court documents promptly

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Judicial officers have been asked to always release certified copies of court documents within a shortest period of time so as to enable litigants file their appeals on time.

According to the Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija, many litigants get frustrated and end up losing their cases on appeal because some of the judicial officers whose decisions are to be challenged do not want their rulings and judgments challenged.

He said the judicial officers shouldn’t fear to have their decisions challenged since it is important for the people they serve from whom judicial power is derived.

The Principal Judge made the remarks on Tuesday at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala  while officiating with the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and Deputy Chief Justice at the swearing in ceremony of four newly appointed judicial officers at Grade One Magistrate level and one Acting Chief Magistrate Hilda Bakanansa Walaga who was formerly employed as the Manager in charge of Prosecutions at Uganda Revenue Authority –URA.

The Grade One Magistrates who have taken oath are Aisha Nakiwate who was previously working as a Human Rights Officer with Uganda Human Rights Commission and Pepera  Edith Anne formerly in private practices as an Advocate with Probata Advocates.

Others are Derrick Kamanzi who was also in private legal practice as an Associate with Amanya Advocates and Solicitors and Ackline Kembabazi who was previously working as an Advocate with Kasangaki and Company Advocates.

Taking oath, they pledged to exercise their judicial functions entrusted to them and will do right to all manner of people in accordance with the constitution and all other national laws.

They have also pledged to dispense justice without fear or favor, affection or ill will.

In her remarks, the Acting Chief Registrar Rosemary Bareebe has welcomed them in the judicial family and assured them that they have come to the Judiciary when it is in its transformation journey when a lot has changed.

She has cautioned them to safeguard their jobs jealously by working hard with excellence and do what they promised in their appointment letters.

“We shall continue orienting you on judicial practice and judicial service generally and the stations where you will be deployed to serve” said Bareebe.

In his remarks at the Swearing in Ceremony, the Chief Justice  Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoy tasked the new officers to acquaint themselves with the Supreme law of the Land – the constitution so that if there is something being debated, they understand what is going on and its implications.

He also reminded them that there is no one superior to the other in justice seeking and as such, they have to treat all litigants equally. He emphasized dispensation of Justice without fear, favor, affection or ill will.

“A rich man has no better claim of justice than a poor person, so d,on’t be influenced by any factor whether economic or social status,” said the Chief Justice. “Let your conscience guide you. “, said the Chief Justice.

The  Chief Justice said nobody should disorganize Court proceedings after he had asked each of the appointed judicial officers what they would do if at all a Superior Judicial Officer makes an abrupt visit to their courts and got varying answers.

Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera advised the judicial officers to bear in mind that the public looks at their single faces as the entire image of the Judiciary. As such, he asked them to exercise a high level of care as they exercise their duties by being decent, to avoid being rude to the litigants and maintain good relationships at their stations to the people they supervise. This the Deputy Chief Justice who also leads the Constitutional Court/Court of Appeal narrated to them his experience, showing how even the people they despise such as clerks can help them learn how to record pleas for accused persons.

He said when their file is called, they should accepted because it is also for their better learning purposes where they need a room for improvement and therefore, they should expect to be guided by their seniors.

According to Buteera, the judicial officers should also maintain good relationships with other government agencies such as DPP, prisons and police so as to achieve excellent performances. Without this coordination, Justice Buteera believes that there is nothing much that will be achieved.

He warned them not to look at some cases as small but bear in their minds that all cases are important to the people who bring them to court.

Buteera also reminded the officers to make monthly reports of their performances and submit them to their supervisors so that they can know that they are working and also put the data in their judicial records to enable the Judiciary in planning purposes.

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