(L-R): Dr. Pius Bigirimana (Permanent Secretary/Secretary to Judiciary), HE Yoweri Museveni(President of Uganda), Hon. Justice Owiny- Dollo(Chief Justice) at the Commissioning of the Appellant Buildings
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on April 18, 2024commissioned two twin courthouses which will be home to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal buildings which have operated in rented premises since inception.
The President said, "this was all done with Government money. It was not a grant from some place or a loan. Now this proves what National Resistance Movement has been telling you right from the start. We told you that there's nothing that you cannot do but we need to plan and prioritize. This is what we really advise Ugandans. Don't try to touch too many things because if you try to do so, you end up doing nothing," he said.
The buildings billed at UGX115 are located on Plot 2 The Square where the Judiciary headquarters are found.
"The commissioning of these buildings confirm that there's nothing that you cannot do, if we prioritize. Everything is important but what do we need immediately that cannot wait? And which one should we handle to push us to a higher threshold? If we take that line, we shall manage and we are managing."
President Museveni, on the other hand, reassured the Judiciary that the government still maintains its target of increasing the court system budget to Shs800 billion.
The Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, described the moment as a "historic milestone" in the Judiciary of Uganda. He shared how both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court had never had homes since inception.
Noting that both courts used to operate in the old building of the High Court and then later on went to Mengo, Parliament Avenue, Kololo, Twed Towers, Wandegeya and finally their own their respective homes.
Justice Owiny - Dollo said that operating courts in rented premises compromised the security of the courts and also the Courts would operate in premises designed as business arcades or residential apartments with unsuitable facilities often shared with bars, banks, restaurants and other businesses not compatible with Court work.
Furthermore, the Chief Justice said cases can arise where the Landlord is a litigant and the same court is expected to preside over the case. "There are also instances where rent payments are delayed and the Landlord threatens to evict a Court or to take the Court to court for non-payment of rent," Justice Owiny-Dollo said adding that it's for those reasons that he appreciates President Museveni for his undertaking and unwavering commitment to provide a home for the two appellate Courts.
"I also seize this occasion to hail my predecessor Chief Justices: Samuel Wako Wambuzi, Benjamin Jesse Odoki, and Bart Magunda Katureebe for their role in the pursuit of a home for each of the appellate Courts. The cultivation of the seed, and the tendering of the tree, whose fruits we are harvesting today are directly attributable to each one of these eminent Judiciary administrators," the Chief Justice said.
On his part, the Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, who heads the Court of Appeal which doubles as the Constitutional Court said those two courts' chambers have been above a restaurant and a bar and it could be noisy at times but with the opening of the new courthouses, this is no more. "The buildings commissioned today are going to save the judiciary and government generally from spending billions of shillings in renting court and office space for Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The two towers now stand in the middle of Kampala with a strategic view for our foreign visitors, local tourists and our court users to appreciate the beauty of Kampala and the presence of the Judiciary in the city centre. We shall always be proud of our twin towers," Justice Buteera said.
Dr Pius Bigirimana, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, explained that the idea of constructing the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal was conceived in 1999 but remained on the shelf until 2014 when it was approved by the Judiciary's Top Management. Even then, he said, that it remained on the wish list because of lack of funding.
"In July2019, Top Management decided to start with the construction of the super structure with whatever funds were available. The rest would be considered as funds became available. On 2nd September 2019 through an open tender advertisement, seven firms responded and the successful contractor was Seyani Brothers & Co. Ltd. and Parab at Siyani Construction joint venture at a total cost of Shs.63.9billion for only a nine-floor superstructure," the Judiciary Accounting Officer said.
"The Procurement was transparent. That is why there were no administrative reviews. Thanks to the then Contracts Committee Chairperson headed by H/W Sarah Langa Siu, the current Chief Registrar, who ensured fairness and transparency in the procurement process," he said.
The Permanent Secretary- Judiciary, Mr. Pius Bigirimana thanked the President for his support when he directed those funds be made available by enhancement of Judiciary budget in the year 2021/22, saying this was a game changer in the life of this project.
Construction was supposed to take three years including the defects liability period Dr Bigirimana said but this didn't happen because an additional floor on both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal was factored into the construction to cater for Conference facilities which have been draining money from the budget to finance them in Hotels.
Another idea of interior design, Dr Bigirimana said, was introduced to include wellness fitness facilities. "The above together with the installation of Information Communication Technology facilities (ICT), Heating Ventilation and Air Condition facilities (HVAC) and Firefighting equipment pushed the construction completion to an estimated four years. Actual excavation started in March 2020. Construction started in May 2020. Today 18th April 2024,the Judiciary is entering before the four years. This is a big statement to confirm that after all Government can deliver especially when the players have an Abundance Mentality coupled with patriotism. All the funding has been from the Government of Uganda revenue," Bigirimana said.
The commissioning was punctuated with the President awarding the current Chief Justice and the three of his predecessors for the various roles they played in ensuring the Twin Towers that now host the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court come to reality.
Besides the presidential awards, Chief Justice Owiny - Dollo rewarded six Staff of the Judiciary for the role they played in ensuring that buildings were constructed. These included the Permanent Secretary, the Chief Registrar, the Commissioner Estates and Technical Services, Eng Dr Christopher Ebal, the Under Secretary, Ms Maureen Kasande, the Commissioner Human Resource, Ms Apophia N. Tumwine and Mr Deo Kasozi, the head Procurement and Disposal Unit.
Posted 18th, April 2024
