Group Photo: The New Ag. Chief Magistrates with Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, Deputy Chief Justice (seated 4th from the Left)
The Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, on Tuesday September 5,2023 closed a 10-day residential induction of new Acting Chief Magistrates at Colline Hotel, Mukono where he urged them to shun corruption.
The Deputy Chief Justice said they were "Judiciary's chain and building blocks desired to achieve its transformation agenda based on its Vision "Justice for all"."
He appreciated the Chairperson of the Governing Council, The Executive Director Judicial Training Institute, The Registrar and the entire staff of JTI for organizing a timely induction that has provided a good platform of what is expected of them as Chief Magistrates.
He outlined five key areas to prioritize. These included timely delivery of Judgments/Rulings within the prescribed time (60) days according to the Uganda Judicial Code of conduct); to shun corruption in line with Judiciary’s zero tolerance to corruption. "The Judiciary has no space for the corrupt. I have been calling on the public to give us evidence so that we remove rotten tomatoes from the basket," he said.
The other areas being certainty of hearing dates, good customer care service, having annual work plans with clear targets to assess achievements, and to treat the staff under their supervision with courtesy.
The other areas that he asked them to pay attention to were; issues of missing files and processing of Court records for appeal purposes, bail funds and its refund, time management at Court and failure to properly manage Archives and Exhibit stores.
He called on them to supervise Judicial Officers and other staff under them, provide accountability for Government funds, maintain a good Court environment and its ambiance, conduct locus visits in land cases and avoid absenteeism at court.
The Deputy Chief Justice also encouraged the participants to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms such as Mediation, Plea Bargaining and Small Claims Procedure.
Hon. Lady Justice Damalie N Lwanga, the JTI Executive Director thanked the DCJ for honoring the invitation to close the induction and informed him that the training was tailored to empower the participants with knowledge and skills and to also refresh their knowledge on different aspects of the law.
Prior to the closure, the participants were taken through Judgement Writing by Hon. Justice Lawrence Gidudu, the Head of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court; Judicial Ethics, Integrity and the Judicial Code of Conduct - a paper presented by Mr Mwebembezi Julius, Registrar in Charge of the Directorate of Complaints, Investigations and Disciplinary Affairs at the Judicial Training Institute on behalf of Commissioner Mrs. Ruth Sebatindira.
Also present at the closing Ceremony was the incoming Registrar Judicial Training Institute, HW Katushabe Prossy and JTI's Deputy Registrar, HW Mulalira Umar Faisal.
The outgoing Registrar Judicial Training Institute, HW Mary Kaitesi moderated the ceremony.
The climax of the induction was the awarding of certificates of completion by the Deputy Chief Justice certificates of completion.
Posted 5th, September 2023
