Chief Registrar launches her memoirs as she hands over office

KAMPALA - It was an emotional handover ceremony for the outgoing chief registrar of courts of Judicature Sarah Langa Siu on Friday as she used the same occasion to launch a book detailing her journey in the office.

Titled Qualified by God, My Journey as Chief Registrar, her memoirs speak to how she miraculously came into office and what has enabled her to succeed.

Langa said she was inspired to write the book by the Judiciary Permanent Secretary Dr Pius Bigirimana and encouraged fellow judicial officers to copy a leaf and also write books to inspire the young generation.

“This book speaks to matters regarding my calling as the Chief Registrar, what I have been able to do and I encourage you to buy and read it because I am sure you pick something,” Langa said.

Langa thanked President Yoweri Museveni for considering her fit to serve as the Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature and the Judicial Service Commission for recommending her.

Langa is among the 21 acting High Court Judges that were recently appointed by President Museveni and she is now awaiting deployment.

Meanwhile, Pamela Lamunu has been appointed as the acting chief registrar.

Outgoing chief registrar of courts of Judicature Sarah Langa Siu Langa receives a plague from Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo in appreciation of her dedicated services to the Judiciary. On the right is her husband.

Langa's journey:

“Today is a special day for me. I came into office in 2020 and we have achieved a lot. We have disposed of over 1 million cases. I thank all the judicial officers who have contributed to this big achievement,” she noted.

Langa said she leaves office with joy because the number of judicial officers has increased, partly implemented the Administration of the Judiciary Act 2020 with two regulations put in place one which addresses the deployment policy in addition to standardisation of archives and exhibit stores which has minimised on the issues of missing files.

Other achievements she mentioned include developing a tool for inspection and timely enrollment of advocates.

She tasked the incoming chief registrar to fast-track the amendment of the Magistrates Court Act so that the pecuniary jurisdiction of the magistrates’ court is enhanced as a strategy in the fight against case backlog.

Langa handed over a court seal, an instrument summarising the role of the chief registrar and the deployment history of the lower bench judicial officers to Lamunu to guide her in deploying and transferring them.

In her acceptable speech, Lamunu commended Langa for being a dedicated servant and promised to move in her shadow.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo also commended Langa for having been equal to the task.

Sarah Langa was joined by her husband, the Judiciary Permanent Secretary, judicial officers and Rose Nassali Lukwago, the Judicial Service Commission PS to cut the cake.

“It is very difficult to work with me if you are not quick and I don’t want to work with people that take long to understand. Your dedication, commitment sense of purpose and passion with which you held the office of the chief registrar is the one I send you to serve the people.

Thirty years from now nobody will remember that you were a chief registrar but your judgments. 

You have become a judge at the right time. I ask the lord to shower you with more blessings,” Owiny-Dollo said.

Owiny-Dollo hailed Langa for being a good listener, noting that the only time he disagreed with her was when she wanted to become a judge in the middle of the implementation of the Administration of the Judiciary Act. 

Owiny-Dollo implored the judicial officers to work hard saying he will not rest until the judiciary budget was raised to sh800b.

Dr Pius Bigirimana, the Judiciary permanent secretary thanked Langa for the work well done.

“You have performed very well and you are one of the best in this office. I am not saying that others didn’t perform well but you are in top position. You have been my lawyer because you are very analytical, a full-time thinker, result-oriented and a good communicator. Thank you so much and I wish you success in your new assignment,” Owiny-Dollo said.

Bishop Joshua Lwere led the prayers at the handover ceremony. Lwere reminded judicial officers of God’s principles of social justice remarking that political and social injustice can destroy a nation.