Premier Nsibambi urges Judiciary to modernise rules

Feb 04, 2005

THE Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has urged the Judiciary to drop archaic procedures and modernise the system.

By Milton Olupot

THE Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has urged the Judiciary to drop archaic procedures and modernise the system.

Nsibambi called upon them to embrace information technology as they modernise. He said judicial reforms were necessary to change the way cases were handled.

“It is an extremely important role if judicial systems are to survive in the global village. An archaic judicial system dominated with archaic procedures and equipment has no place in the 21st century and can lead to injustice,” Nsibambi said.

He said the judiciary was the last fallback for redressing injustice and resolving disputes in society, adding that the system must, therefore, be efficient.

He challenged the African judiciary to work through regional blocks to strengthen judicial systems across countries.

“This is in line with the modern thinking of African leaders who are encouraging formation of strong regional blocks in order to have more bargaining power in world politics,” he said.

Nsibambi was yesterday speaking at the opening of a three-day South African Judges’ Commission (SAJC) Conference at the Imperial Botanical Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

He said the Government was a strong advocate of regional blocks in all spheres of life and the meeting would be an appropriate avenue to discuss how to modernise courts as a group.

Nsibambi said the Government would support the facilitation of judicial officers to ensure that they were efficient and impartial. The conference, under the theme; modernising the judiciary: the role of IT in modernising judicial systems, attracted participants from 10 countries.

Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, represented South Africa. Other countries in attendance were Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Uganda, the host.

The Secretary General of the Venice Commission, Counsel of Europe, Gianni Buquicchio, and the head of the Constitutional Division, Schutz Durr, were also present.
The chief justice, Benjamin Odoki, said the SAJC was a unique organisation intended to promote strong, dynamic and effective judicial leadership in the region.

“This will play a key role in promoting and defending the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and improvement in the delivery of justice as a measure of promoting judicial accountability,” Odoki said.

Justice and constitutional affairs minister Dr. Khiddu Makubuya said he would encourage the Government to give the judiciary space.

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