Judiciary secures funds for Buvuma court premises

BUVUMA - The Judiciary has secured funding for the construction of the Buvuma Chief Magistrate’s Court premises, in a significant response to the justice needs of residents in the area.

This was revealed by Deputy Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, during the Buvuma Court Open Day on May 15, 2025, – the first of its kind since the establishment of the court.

The lack of dedicated court premises has been a major obstacle to justice for seekers in the area, with judicial officers expressing concern over the insecurity of the current working environment.

The court has been operating from a dilapidated building owned by the Buganda Kingdom.

The Court Open Day was organised by the Judiciary in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Zeija assured Buvuma residents that the Judiciary would fast-track the construction of court buildings now that funds have been secured.

He also promised that boats for judicial officers would soon be available to ease their mobility on the island, one of the key measures aimed at ensuring consistent access to justice for island residents.

Zeija encouraged judicial officers to uphold high standards of professionalism by managing time effectively, ensuring certainty of trial and hearing dates, delivering timely rulings, avoiding corruption, and offering excellent customer care.

He also underscored the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), regular community engagement, and continuous sensitisation about court services to build trust in the formal justice system.

The Deputy Chief Justice reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to improving access to justice and judicial accountability across the country.

He outlined the Judiciary’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to justice, including the decentralisation of the Court of Appeal, increasing the number of High Court circuits, recruitment of more judicial staff, use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the administration of justice, and mobile courts.

He also highlighted the Judiciary’s plan to deploy Grade One Magistrates at every constituency level, in a bid to bring justice closer to the people.

“These interventions are geared toward reducing the distance and costs people incur to access court services. We want to bring justice closer to where people live,” Zeija said.
Acting chief registrar, Pamella Lamunu, commended the UNDP for supporting the Judiciary in organising the first-ever Court Open Day on Buvuma Island.

She emphasised the Judiciary’s dedication to service delivery and accountability, describing such engagements as vital for improving justice based on feedback from court users.

Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, representing the UNDP country representative, commended the Judiciary for reaching out to underserved communities.

Wakabi said Buvuma’s remote location and limited access to formal justice mechanisms had led to heavy reliance on informal systems.

She praised the Court Open Day initiative, noting that it provided an opportunity for justice institutions to better understand and respond to the unique needs of communities, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, youth and the poor.

Wakabi noted that the initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal principle of “leaving no one behind” by making justice more accessible and understandable.
She reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting justice sector reforms and promoting people-centred approaches to governance and justice.

Local leaders welcomed the Judiciary’s presence and praised the engagement as an important step in bridging the gap between courts and the communities they serve.

They called for improved transport options for both judicial officers and court users, especially across water bodies, and urged the Judiciary to prioritise court infrastructure development, now that land has been allocated.

Lugazi Chief Magistrate, Moses Nabende, noted that the lack of proper court premises, inadequate furniture, poor infrastructure, and a severe shortage of staff, with only one support staff currently deployed, continue to hinder access to justice in the area.

Nabende said the absence of accommodation and transport facilities for judicial personnel was yet another bottleneck to justice delivery in the region.

Members of the public raised several concerns, including the infrequency of court sittings and the need for more regular hearings. They also called for the provision of life jackets for prisoners transported between locations and more frequent community engagement sessions.

One key issue raised was the absence of banking services on the island, which makes it difficult for court users to pay court fees and cash bail.

Residents requested that banking services be made available at or near the court premises to facilitate such transactions.

Other concerns included the charging of fees for police bonds and reports of mistreatment of civilians by army personnel at landing sites.

However, Zeija assured the community that their concerns would be addressed and steps were being taken to improve justice services on the island.