The New UJOA Executive, The new UJOA President, H/W Kaweesa standing 5th from the Right.
Judicial\r\nofficers under their umbrella body, Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA)\r\non Saturday November 2, 2015 elected new office bearers.
His Worship Godfrey Kaweesa, the Moyo Chief\r\nMagistrate and former Association General Secretary, was overwhelmingly elected\r\nnew UJOA president for a two-year term, replacing H/W Vincent Emmy Mugabo, an\r\nassistant registrar at the Commercial Court.
The 38-year-old H/W Kaweesa promised to work\r\nwith all stakeholders to ensure an accountable Judiciary to keep it in conformity\r\nwith the constitution. "Part of our plans will be to lobby Government\r\nto accord the Judiciary support and resources it needs as an arm of the State. We\r\nwill for instance propose a system of quarterly court sessions for all Judicial\r\nOfficers to address backlog. If this is done, public ratings of the Judiciary\r\nwill improve.”
Speaking earlier at the UJOA Annual General Meeting,\r\nthe Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe, who is also UJOA’s patron,\r\ncommended the members for their continued composure amidst grueling challenges\r\nof human and financial resources facing the Judiciary.
He pledged that the Judiciary leadership was\r\ncommitted to do everything within its means to improve working conditions for\r\nall judicial officers. This he said would be achieved through "appropriate\r\nengagements with members of the other branches of the State.”
Hon. Justice Katureebe promised to follow up\r\non the presidential pledges made during an interface with judges at State House\r\non September 2, 2015. Among these are; funding the computerization of the\r\nJudiciary for a period of five years, constructing institutional houses for\r\njudicial officers at their workstation, purchase of vehicles for magistrates\r\nand medical allowances.
Others include the provision of Shs 5 billion\r\nsupplementary budget, a Shs 10Bn contribution toward UJOA SACCO and a\r\npresidential promise for all judicial officers to retire with 100 per cent of\r\ntheir salaries, security and other benefits.
He also said the Judiciary has worked out a\r\nReward and Recognition Policy to recognize excellent performers.
Speaking about his plans to curb corruption, Hon.\r\nJustice Katureebe said: "We have opened a telephone line in the office of the\r\nChief Justice where litigants can send messages with allegations of misconduct\r\nagainst judicial officers. The complaints are investigated and if found to be\r\ntrue, action is then taken against such an officer.”
He said the Inspectorate of Courts has also\r\nbeen strengthened and will soon be headed by a Supreme Court Justice so as to\r\nbe able to investigate all cadres of judicial officers.
At the assembly, the Constitution of UJOA was\r\namended to draw representation across\r\njudicial ranks in replacement of regional representatives.
New UJOA Executive
1. H/W Kawesa Godfrey - President
2. H/W Helen Ajio - Vice\r\nPresident
3. H/W Elizabeth Akullo Ogwal - Gen Sec
4. H/W Janeva Natukunda - Asst. Gen Sec
5. H/W Byakutaga Carol - Treasurer
6. H/W Mbabazi Edith - Asst. Treasurer
7. H/W Mary Kaitesi - Editor
8. H/W Moses Nabende - Asst. Editor
9. Hon. Lady Justice Stella Arach Amoko - Rep SC
10. Hon. Lady Justice Catherine\r\nBamugemereire- Representative Court of Appeal
11. Hon. Lady Justice Jane Kiggundu - Representative High Court
12. H/W Julia Acio -\r\nRegistrars’ Representative
13. H/W Flavia Nabakooza - Chief Magistrates’ Representative
14. H/W Simon Ocen - Magistrate\r\nGrade One Rep.
15. H/W Othieno Christopher - Magistrate Grade One Two\r\nRep.
About UJOA
Uganda Judicial Officers\r\nAssociation (UJOA) is an umbrella Association that brings together judges, registrars\r\nand magistrates of the Uganda Judiciary. The Association was founded in 1970 as\r\nUganda Magistrates Association (UMA). It assumed its new name in 2000 so\r\nthat it could embrace all cadre of judicial officers. The Association is headed\r\nby a democratically elected executive for a term of two years.
Posted 23rd, November 2015
