Hon. Justice Dr Bamwine, Hon. Justice Katureebe and Hon. Justice Buteera at the Hon. Judges and Registrars' meeting in Kampala
The Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart M. Katureebe, on November 3, 2017 presided over this year's High Court Judges and Registrars meeting in Kampala, which,among others, discussed strategies to reduce case backlog.
"You should embrace measures to fight and eliminate case backlog, avoid delayed disposal of cases and delayed judgments," said Hon. Justice Katureebe, adding that adjournments and interlocutory applications are the biggest contributors to case backlog in the Courts.
He commended the High Court for disposing of the parliamentary electoral petitions within the stipulated time.
He further urged Judges not to allow lawyers to dictate court proceedings, where they are prompted to make unnecessary adjournments.
The Chief Justice said the government had given the Judiciary Sh 6 billion for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support in the case backlog fight.
The Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Dr. Yorokamu Bamwine, said team work and proper planning is critical to fighting case backlog.
Hon.Justice Bamwine urged the judicial officers to have time to write judgments,adding that the Civil Procedure Reform Committee, in their report, has identified black spots that have increased case backlog.
Reactions
Hon.Justice Henry Kaweesa, of the Land Division, said it was important that officers who are transferred complete their matters so that they do not leave backlog for those who replace them.
Hon.Justice Lawrence Gidudu, the head of the Anti Corruption Division, said there was need for judicial officers to be trained in case management skills so that they (judicial officers) can manage their time to hear cases as well as make decisions. He added that it is important that if someone hears a case, they should be able to make a decision for it.
Hon.Justice John Eudes Keitirima, the Senior Resident Judge Masaka said there was need for the weighting system of cases to be revised because someone who handles 10 applications scores higher than a person who has concluded two cases.
Hon.Justice Wilson Masalu Musene, the Resident Judge Mpigi High Court said it is important got upcountry courts to also be considered for court recording equipment.
Responses
The Chief Justice emphasized that the courts are implementing a five-year ICT project that will start at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Divisions of the High Court in Kampala, Chief Magistrates Court of Mengo, Nakawa and Makindye,before it is rolled out in a phased manner to other courts countrywide.
Hon.Justice Katureebe said the performance management tool is being customized so that cases are weighted depending on severity.
Healso urged Judges who are nearing retirement, not to take on new cases, sixmonths, prior retirement.
"Judges who are about to retire should concentrate on completing pending cases within six months, as allowed by the constitution. If the Judge fails to complete as case within the specified period of time, the law allows to be given extra three months," he explained.
Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Justice Richard Buteera and chairperson of the Case Backlog Reduction Committee said the cases of the elderly and breastfeeding mothers should take priority over old cases which are in court.
In a communique' read by HW Isaac Muwata the Registrar High Court, the Chief Registrar, HW Paul Gadenya Wolimbwa, tasked Registrars to perform their duties with professionalism, diligence, honesty and fairness in order for justice to prevail in the country.
Posted 6th, November 2017
