(L-R): Dr. Pius Bigirimana (Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary) and HW Sarah Langa Sui(Chief Registrar)
On Thursday June 2,2022, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr Pius Bigirimana together with the Chief Registrar, HW Sarah Langa Siu, met with representatives of institutions under the Administration of Justice Programme at the Judiciary Headquarters.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Administration of Justice programme implementation arrangements and the priorities for FY 2022/23.
The meeting drew participants from the Judicial Service Commission, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Law Development Center, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Tax Appeals Tribunal and National Planning Authority (NPA).
The PS/SJ, who is the Chairperson of the Programme Working Group, stressed the importance of having such engagements as a way of bringing many minds together for better service delivery. "It is important to have a meeting of minds as we chat a way forward and to also understand how business works with each other. We also need to bring everyone on board to know the Programme's direction and support where necessary," he said.
He noted the need to meet regularly in order to discuss key Programme issues and harmonize with what is being done. Dr Bigirimana further informed the meeting that he had received positive response from Development Partners in as far as supporting Programme activities.
The Chief Registrar emphasized the need to be proactive in order to improve coordination among the implementing institutions. "Since this (Programme) is making us one family, we need to adopt means of easily communicating with each other, so that no one is left behind," she said.
Mr Operemo Vincent, the Manager Strategic Planning at NPA presented on the Programme structures and their roles. The presentation outlined the composition of; the Leadership Committee chaired by the Chief Justice, the Programme Working Group chaired by the PS/SJ, the Technical Working Groups and Programme Secretariat.
It was therefore agreed that the PS/SJ writes to all Permanent Secretaries/Accounting Officers of the institutions under the Programme to nominate members to constitute the above structures. The Chief Justice will then be briefed on the new developments.
Key Priorities
Mr Simon Peter Opolot, the Principal Economist at the Judiciary, highlighted the Programme’s key priorities for the FY 2022/23.
He stated that the primary goal of the Programme is to "Strengthen access to justice for all". This goal, he said, will be attained through four objectives;
- Strengthen people-centered justice service delivery system;
- Reform and strengthen justice business processes;
- Strengthen the fight against corruption; and,
- Strengthen legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for effective and efficient delivery of justice.
He noted that through the above objectives, more courts and justice delivery centres are expected to be constructed, renovated, expanded and operationalized, special programs for better delivery of justice will be implemented, public awareness and advocacy on justice services will be increased as well as review and develop relevant legal, regulatory and policy framework.
Posted 2nd, June 2022
