The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera(R) and Justice John Eudes Keitirima Head of the Family Division
The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera, who is heading the team supervising the National Court Case Census, continued his inspections at the Family Division where he was received by the Head of the Division Justice John Eudes Keitirima and Deputy Registrar HW Samuel Olumo.
In his report to the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Keitirima reported that the Division has a caseload of 6,480 cases with 1,379 categorized as backlog. The largest category of pending files was Miscellaneous Applications accounting for 2,293 followed by Civil Suits with 1,496 cases. Administrative Causes are 1,105, Divorce Causes are 492 while Mediation Causes are 459.
The other case categories being handled are Civil Appeals, Civil Revisions, Miscellaneous Appeals, Family Cause, Originating Summons, Taxation Applications, Adoption Causes, among others.
Justice Keitirima noted that as a Division, they have resolved that cases without contention should not take more than a year to be handled.
He advised people to write wills noting that this could significantly reduce the number of cases brought before the Court.
The Deputy Chief Justice emphasized the need to sensitize the public to plan for their estates before drafting wills in order to avoid future disputes.
HW Olumo noted that many administration causes were filed without complete documentation or Certificate of no Objection, and lack of follow-up which slowed the process.
He, however stated that it is a Court policy that Administration Causes should be disposed of within a year of filing.
HW Olumo noted that the team at the Division were committed to reconciling the physical cases files and those on the Court Case Administration System.
Posted 14th, January 2025
