JUDICIARY Latest Features

Members of the Civil Procedure Review Committee headed by the Hon. Justice Dr. Bamwine(PJ)

Kampala. The Chief Justice, Hon.Justice Bart M. Katureebe, inaugurated a 14-member committee that will review and make proposals on amending Civil Procedure Rules. The committee which is chaired by the Principal Judge, Hon.Justice Dr. Yorokam Bamwine, has 60 days in which to realize their mandate.

The Chief Justice thanked the members for accepting to undertake the assignment. He added that the members had been selected because of their expertise.

"Rules are outdated,misguiding, confusing and confused...there is need to change the rules," the Chief Justice said.

According to Office Instrument 1 of 2017 that establishes the Civil Procedure Review Committee, the committee can refer to previous studies on Civil Procedure Rules, carry outfield studies, consultations, focused group discussions, desk studies and the Hon. Justice J.W.N. Tsekooko (Retired Justice), the consultant engaged by the Judiciary to review Civil and Criminal laws impacting in the administration of justice.

The Principal Judge in his remarks said the committee will do their best to meet the deadline set by the Chief Justice. However, he said there was need for the Committee to be facilitated to enable them reach their mandate.

The objective of the committee is to;

a)   Expedite the disposal of civil cases;

b)   Ensuring adequate preparation of cases before trial;

c)   Reducing delay of cases and maximizing judicial time;

d)   Re-engineering business processes for civil justice;

e)   Improving access to justice for unrepresented litigants;

f)    Simplifying the procedure and practices;

g)   Improving and streamlining case management;

h)   Prevent abuse of interim orders;

i)   Giving judicial officers greater powers to expeditiously dispose of cases and administer substantive justice;

j)     Reviewing the powers of Registrars; and

k)   Carrying out any other functions as may be assigned to the Committee by the Chief Justice.

The Committee is expected to make an interim report covering the Committee's work for the first month as well as an end term report with draft amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules.

Composition of the Committee