Earlier, delegates from the Judiciary of South Korea, including Hon. Justice OH Gyeong-mi and Judge Yun Hwa-rang, met with the Principal Judge, Dr. Flavian Zeija, at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala.
Accompanying the Judges were Mr. Jaehoon Choi, a specialist in Political and Development Affairs from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Changhee Lee, a Language Interpreter.
During the meeting, the Principal Judge explained the structure of the Ugandan Judiciary, including how the High Court operates, its various Divisions and Circuits, and the criteria for deploying Judicial officers within the Divisions and Circuits, noting that deployment is based on need rather than fixed criterion.
He highlighted the High Court's unlimited jurisdiction and the nature of cases handled by its Divisions. He also discussed his dual role in managing both administrative and judicial duties.
Dr. Zeija further outlined the role of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC),detailing the process for selecting Judges, including the Principal Judge, and the tenure of the position. He also explained the composition of the JSC and how its members are appointed.
Responding to a question about how the Judiciary managed operations during COVID-19 and the pandemic's impact on its functions, Dr. Zeija discussed the challenges faced, particularly in handling prisoners and continuing judicial work. He said the Judiciary used technology, such as video conferencing systems, to address some of these challenges.
"Although Judges were allowed to continue working, lockdowns resulted in a backlog of cases, which the Judiciary is actively working to clear," he said
To address the backlog, Dr. Zeija highlighted that the Judiciary has been utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, such as Plea Bargaining for criminal cases and Mediation for civil cases, which have proven effective in resolving many cases.
Justice OH Gyeong-mi (Head of the delegation) provided an overview of South Korea's court system, noting that there are approximately 3,300 Judges in total, including 13 Supreme Court Justices and about 2,800 judges in the High Court.
She also highlighted that in South Korea, younger judges in the High Court often take on tasks typically handled by Registrars in other jurisdictions, reflecting a difference in their judicial system.
The meeting was attended by HW Rosemary Bareebe (Registrar High Court), HW Ereemye Jumire James Mawanda (Public Relations Officer), HW Nanteza Zulaika (Deputy Registrar ADR), and HW Mwesigye Julius (Personal Assistant to the PJ).
Posted 28th, August 2024
