JUDICIARY Latest Features

The Hon. Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Yorokamu Bamwine\r\non January 19, 2014 said that if approved, the six new judges recently appointed\r\nby President Museveni, would bring the number of judges in service to 60.  Four of the six judges will be\r\ndesignated to the High Court and two to the autonomous Industrial Court.

Hon.\r\nJustice Bamwine said compared to the rate at which cases are filed, the number\r\nof judges at the High Court should be between 130 and 150 judges. Currently,\r\nthe High Court has 54 Hon. Judges. He said 82 judges, including the Principal\r\nJudge, were presumed adequate since 2009 to perform at optimum level but there\r\nwas still case backlog.

His\r\nExcellence, President Museveni wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca\r\nKadaga, on Friday January 17, 2014 appointing six new judges to be vetted by\r\nthe Appointments Committee. The committee convenes on Friday January 24, 2014.

Hon.\r\nJustice Bamwine commended government for the appointments, saying: "The filling\r\nof the vacancies should have come earlier because we are few on ground. The\r\nappointment is a drop in the ocean but we are getting relieved.”

The\r\nIndustrial Court is scheduled to be reconstituted following the appointment of\r\nnew designate Hon. Judges. The Acting Chief Registrar and Judge designate, Hon.\r\nJustice Asaph Ntengye Ruhinda, was designated as Chief Judge of the said court while\r\nJudge designate Hon. Lady Justice Lillian Tumusiime from the directorate of\r\nethics and integrity designated as Hon. Judge.