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THIS WEEK: Law society petitions court over judiciary administration bill
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Under their professional body Uganda Law Society (ULS), lawyers have petitioned the constitutional court over failure to pass the judiciary administration bill and government actions that impend the judiciary from attaining the self -accounting status.
Speaking to the media, ULS President Francis Gimara said while the independence of the judiciary is provided for under article 126 of the constitution, government has continuously violated these provisions as the legislature and the executive have failed to take action or enact appropriate laws that would enable the arm of government to operate independently.
He also expressed concern that the judiciary operates with a small budget that doesn’t allow it dispense justice in a timely manner.
According to the 2018/2019 budget frame work paper, the Justice Law and Order Sector where the judiciary falls has been allocated Shs1.119trillion which is about 5% of the total national budget. This according to ULS is low if compared to what is supposed to be handled.
They now in their petition want the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister to present the Judiciary Adminstration bill in parliament within a month and a permanent injunction restraining parliament from cutting the judiciary budget to be issued.
They now await the Attorney General who is the respondent to file government’s defense.
