(Standing):HW Dr Lubowa Daniel - Assistant Registrar Mediation
Hon. Justice Stephen Mubiru, the Head of the Commercial Division of the High Court has revealed that the Court intends to have all back-logged cases handled by June. He made this revelation on Tuesday February 22, 2022, during a Bar-Bench meeting held at the Court's premises.
The hybrid meeting attracted more than 100 advocates who actively participated in the proceedings.
"Our target is to have all backlogged cases especially appeals cleared by June this year with yourcooperation," Hon. Justice Mubiru said. Adding that the target will be achieved through categorization and prioritization of old cases by holding special sessions for appeals and backlogged cases.
Currently, the Court has a total caseload of 6,580 cases out of which 2,221 are backlog. Hon. Justice Mubirusaid, these numbers mean on average each Judge has a caseload of 1,000cases.
He informed the participants that the Court is finalizing the exercise of migrating data from the Court Case Administration System to the Electronic Court Case Management and Information System (ECCMIS). It was reported that reconciliation of the physical files with the digital record was ongoing ahead of the launch of ECCMIS next week (March01, 2022).
It was reported that the Division is reviewing its Client Charter as a commitment to improve the effective and fair delivery of commercial justice in the country.
Among the challenges noted were the limited number of judicial officers, filing of unnecessary applications, duplication of cases at the Civil and Commercial Division, and staff incompetence in terms of timely data input and transcription.
Hon. Justice Mubiru noted that the Judiciary Top Management, has promised to post more judges in the next recruitment. In addition, he said, staff were undergoing various capacity building trainings and that the Court plans to start live transcription next month.
This, Justice Mubiru said, would enable Judges and parties to have typed records of the court proceedings in real time.
On her part, the Court's Registrar, HW Flavia Nabakooza, stressed that with ECMMIS going live, processes will be electronic. "You will sit in your office, file your case, the defendant will also file from their office and the summons will be issued by us (court). We shall put our electronic signatures and the case will be managed electronically till the end." HW Nabakooza further noted that payments will be online and judgements uploaded on the system.
She called upon lawyers to respond to the cause list that will be issued out soon for aged cases as this is part of the cleaning up exercise to free the system of dormant cases where parties lost interest in a matter.
On the initiatives that the Division has undertaken to improve service delivery, the Registrar highlighted reorganization of archives, consistent sharing of weekly cause lists on advocates forums and division of roles amongst the Registrars.
On behalf of the Uganda Law Society, Ms Lydia Namuli, called for mutual recognition and respect between the bar and the bench. She also asked the Division's administration to improve utilities for lawyers at the court especially the provision of parking space and proper utilization of the social media forums by sharing rulings and judgements thereon.
Key among other concerns from members of the bar included frequency of adjournments due to training workshops attended by judicial officers, the need to train more lawyers on ECCMIS and a proposal for an approach of fixing hearing dates by counsel instead of court. They advocated for adequate preparations of court and parties to avoid unnecessary delays.
In response, the Judges commended the call for integrity and adequate preparations by all stakeholders before the court convenes. Advocates were also cautioned against duplication of files and the filing of unnecessary applications.
The Judges also recommended the calendaring of court activities in line with the Judiciary and Judicial Training Institute's calendar which will guide proper management and prevent unnecessary adjournments.
Hon. Lady Justice Anna Mugenyi, the Deputy Head of the Division, urged the lawyers to give their expectations and input to the Court's Client Charter through the Uganda Law Society. She also interested them in getting acquainted with the ECCMIS kiosk set up at the court.
She also assured the bar that there will be a team to give onsite continuous ECMMIS training at the kiosks and also offer technical assistance to court users.
The meeting was attended by Judges; Hon. Justice Richard Wejuli Wabwire, Hon. Lady Justice Cornelia Kakooza Sabiiti and Hon. Lady Justice Susan Abinyo. Equally present were; Registrars; HW Juliet Harty Hatanga, HW Dr Lubowa Daniel and HW Mulondo Mastula.
The meeting was held to give the advocates an update on the Division, its plans, and get their suggestions of how to improve delivery of commercial justice.
Posted 22nd, February 2022
