(L-R): HW Sarah Langa Siu (Chief Registrar), Hon. Justice Richard Buteera (Deputy Chief Justice) at the Case Management Committee
Earlier, Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera chaired the Case Management Committee meeting at the Court of Appeal Building Conference Hall.
He noted that at the inaugural meeting of the Committee, the mandate of the Committee was discussed and a work plan proposed to guide their work.
The Deputy Chief Justice said the work plan was developed and presented at the meeting on August 29, 2024, where the following sub-committees were approved; ADR & AJS sub-committee, Bar-Bench sub-committee, Technical sub-committee, Division Court-Users sub-committee, Circuit coordination sub-committee, and District Coordination sub-committee.
Adding that it was agreed these sub-committees would report to the Case Management Committee and that the work plan had three strategic objectives: strengthening evidence-based research and knowledge management to support efficient case management, enhancing communication and coordination among justice service providers, and promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the introduction of alternative justice strategies in the Judiciary.
To achieve the first objective, several activities were planned, including conducting a National Court Case Census to assess the caseload and backlog in the judiciary and develop further strategies for backlog reduction. He stated that a proposal for the National Court Case Census was prepared by the Technical sub-committee and will be presented for discussion and member input.
Justice Buteera also noted that the Taskforce on Case Backlog Reduction reviewed the2017 Case Backlog Strategy, and the Chief Registrar will present this report.
Adding that an instrument has been designed and developed to assist in data collection for the upcoming Judiciary National Case Census. This instrument would be presented to the members of the Case Management Committee for their input.
Justice Buteera highlighted that during the inaugural National Case Census, the Judiciary had the advantage of collaborating with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), which assisted in data collection and analysis.
He noted that Mr. James Muwonge, Director of Methodology and Statistical Coordination Services, UBOS and his team were available to share their valuable expertise in the upcoming exercise.
Presentations were made on the review of the Case Backlog Reduction Strategy by Dr. Sylvia Namubiru-Mukasa from the Case Management Technical Sub-Committee, and a proposal for conducting the Judiciary National Court Case Census in Uganda was presented by Mr. David Kikabi from the Technical Sub-Committee.
Posted 14th, November 2024
