Dr Okiror , Commissioner HR handing over the Strategic Plan to Mr. Bigirimana the PS/SJ
KAMPALA: The newly appointed Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Mr Pius Bigirimana, has today officially assumed office, a day after he handed over office as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The Commissioner Human Resource, Dr Stephen Opio Okiror, received the new PS/SJ at 8:00 am at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala. "I would like on behalf of the entire Judiciary to state that our new Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Mr Pius Bigirimana, has reported on duty today," Dr Okiror said.
As part of the handover, Dr Okiror who has been acting Permanent Secretary since July 26, 2019 gave Mr Bigirimana the Judiciary Strategic Plan 2016/17-2019/20 to acquaint him with the objectives of the Judiciary.
The President last week appointed Mr Bigirimana, to replace Mr. Kagole Expedito Kivumbi.
During the handover, Dr Okiror said at an appropriate time, the new PS/SJ would interact with his predecessor who will brief him as well as give him a handover report. Adding, "For now since it was an urgent arrangement, I was given the privilege to welcome him and help him settle in."
On his part, Mr. Bigirimana thanked the Commissioner for holding forte and for Strategic Plan, which he said, would help in giving a sense of direction for the Arm of Government. "...I hope that this Strategic Plan will give us a sense of direction to ensure that the people of Uganda are given the services they deserve," he said.
Mr Bigirimana said Plan was consistent with the National Development Plan, which sets the planning framework for the country setting principles, and objectives of which every service must be hinged.
He further described his new deployment to the Judiciary as a privilege. "I am privileged to come to the Judiciary as PS/SJ. The Judiciary is one arm of the Government...I join a family which is committed to promote the administration of justice in this country."
The new PS/SJ promised to have an open door policy to "listen, answer questions, and take decisions to better this institution".
Adding, "My expectation is that people who have been working here will be cooperative. I expect people to support me. A few things may happen differently but I request that whoever is here will look at these changes I am going to introduce and know that they are for the good of the people of Uganda."
On how he intends to deal with the issue of corruption in the Judiciary, Mr Bigirimana said his first task is to understand and appreciate where the problem lies. "The moment I understand where the problem is then I will give the right doze. You see you can give medicine in high dozes and you kill the patient. So let me first understand the problem," he said
Mr Bigirimana is set to meet the Chief Justice and other senior administrators and technocrats within the Judiciary as he settles in.
Posted 29th, July 2019
