Two judicial officers assigned to senior positions

Apr 24, 2016

Kavuma, who is currently the Chief Magistrate at Nakawa, has been assigned the role of acting deputy registrar while Ntende, a Grade I Magistrate at Kira, in Wakiso District, will act as a Chief Magistrate.

THE Judiciary has assigned more responsibilities to two judicial officers, Joyce Kavuma and Samuel Kagoda Ntende, to act in senior positions.

Kavuma, who is currently the Chief Magistrate at Nakawa, has been assigned the role of acting deputy registrar while Ntende, a Grade I Magistrate at Kira, in Wakiso District, will act as a Chief Magistrate.

The Judiciary's Chief Registrar Paul Wolimbwa Gadenya, who is the administrative head of the lower-bench (magistrates and registrars), said the vacancies were created following the retirement of one of the deputy registrars, Otto Michael Gulumali, early this year. The officer, who retired after clocking 60 years, has been in charge of the High Court's Land Registry.

"His retirement necessitated me to request the Chief Justice to assign a competent and qualified officer to take up that assignment until the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) either confirms or recruits," Gadenya said.

The chief registrar added that the assignment of Joyce Kavuma, as acting deputy registrar, had created a gap within chief magistrate ranks. "…that is why the chief justice has again assigned Samuel Kagoda Ntende as Acting Chief Magistrate."
According to Gadenya, Kagoda's station at Kira Magistrate Grade I Court will equally have to be filled with one of the existing Magistrates Grade I at the time of posting.

He said the assignments are provided for by the Government Standing Orders, which say that an officer can be asked to act in a high office if there is a vacancy and if they are qualified for that position.

"Assignments should ordinarily take six months. But if it's to go beyond the six months, the officers are confirmed into those positions or reverted to their old jobs," he explained.

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