By Solomon Hamala
BUGIRI
Iganga is to commence operation as a fully-fledged regional high court circuit starting next month (September), 2022, Deputy Chief Justice, Richard Butera has disclosed.
Butera made the revelation yesterday, 29th August, 2022 while speaking during the Bugiri court open day held at the Bugiri district headquarters.
The Iganga regional circuit is to handle cases committed in the districts of Iganga, Bugiri, Namutumba, Namayingo and Mayuge.
Butera said the introduction of the regional high court circuit will reduce on the burden of transport costs complainants and witnesses have been incurring in travelling to Jinja.
“People have been complaining of delay by judges to handle cases not knowing they had a bulk of work to handle from different districts,” he said.
He said in a bid to reduce on the backlog of cases pending in different courts of law, chief magistrates will be appointed in all districts countrywide to dispose off cases expeditiously.
“The recruitment process is going on and very soon they will be dispatched to the various districts,” he said.
Butera said the number of judges in the Supreme Court is to be increased from 15 to 56 while high court judges from 83 to 187.
He urged members of the public to be vigilant by reporting any corrupt judicial officer if the vice is to be wiped out.
“First reject giving the bribe to our judiciary staff then report anyone who will ask you for a bribe so that we can wipe out this bad habit because it’s unethical,” he said.
Butera said all courts of law countrywide are to be connected to the internet for purposes of handling cases on line besides storage of court data instead of using files.
The resident judge Jinja, Winnie Namisinde expressed concern over the increase in cases of defilement in Busoga sub region.
The district probation officer Bugiri, Ibra Kagere said lack of a remand home is hampering charging of child offenders in the district.
Kagere said on most occasions most child offenders caught in conflict with the law end up being released due to lack of a remand home yet they could have committed capital offenses.
He said most of them end up becoming victims of mob justice in their communities since locals feel fed up of them.
The LC 5 chairman Namayingo, Ronald Sanya asked government to set up two courts in hard to reach areas of Sigulu islands and Lugala to handle cases urgently.
Sanya said most witnesses end up losing interest in cases since its hard and costly travelling from the islands and back.
LOCALS SPEAK OUT
Locals appealed to the judiciary to arrest brokers who hang around court premises claiming they are helping in mediating cases.
Mohamed Daggy, the chairman Bugiri taxi operators association said brokers who hang around Iganga and Bugiri court premises always extort money from relatives of suspects claiming they will present it to the respective magistrates to set suspects free.
Simon Mukose, a resident of Bugiri municipality said he has always alerted the respective authorities at the Bugiri court but no action is taken against the brokers.
However the deputy registrar Jinja high court, Fred Waninda said court services are free and no one should pay money in order to secure justice.
“Unless it’s a fine and the money should be paid to the bank not being given to an individual,” he said.
