Courts paralysed
Mar 05, 2007
BUSINESS was at a standstill at the courts in the city and other parts of the country yesterday following the suspension of work by the Judiciary.
By Vision Reporters
BUSINESS was at a standstill at the courts in the city and other parts of the country yesterday following the suspension of work by the Judiciary.
The Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Kikonyogo (right), on Friday announced the suspension, saying it would last until March 9 when judges meet to review their decision.
At the High Court, some judges were seen dressed casually and without the usual Police escorts. Some court registrars also reported but were in their offices.
A support staff at the High Court said, “We are not judicial officers. We are civil servants under the Public Service commission. That is why we reported to work.â€
At the Buganda Road Court, the gates were closed to the public. There was one security guard manning the gate with few policemen.
Nakawa Court offices were closed save for a policeman who was manning the gates, who said the chief magistrate came in the morning, picked newspapers and left.
At the Constitution Square, the Police was heavily deployed. Grace Turyagumanawe, the regional Police commander, was seen giving orders to his juniors.
In Lira, the trial of 205 suspects charged with capital offences was put on hold.
The district High Court session was supposed to open yesterday according to the cause list released by the Principal Judge.
Suspects charged with simple cases were escorted back to Lira and Erute prisons without their warrants signed by court officials.
People who turned up to have their cases heard went back bitter.
“If the government cannot sort out its problems with the judges, all prisoners should be released,†one person was heard saying.
In Mbale, suspects were told to wait for communication from the Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature.
Inmates who were transported from the central government prisons were taken back to the cells at around 10:00am.
Both the High Court registry and the Chief Magistrate’s court registry remained open.
Court clerks and other support staff also stayed on stand-by. The car park was empty save for the vehicle of the chief magistrate and acting deputy chief registrar, Musimbi Musene who drove in at around 11:36am. Musimbi who was casually dressed, remained within closed doors in his chambers.
In Mityana, prison officers were stranded with about 50 suspects.
Angel Okello, the officer in-charge of CID, said he had read about the suspension but had not received official communication.
He said they will be forced to release suspects on bond if the courts do not resume work.
“We had over 20 suspects to take to court. We found it locked at 9:00. a.m. We are still stranded with them as we plan what to do next,†Okello said.
However, the Chief justice, Benjamin Odoki, Kikonyogo and the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, yesterday met at the High Court over the issue. Sources said the trio was yesterday due to meet President Museveni at State House.
The suspension followed the re-arrest of PRA suspects at the High Court premises after they were granted bail.
BUSINESS was at a standstill at the courts in the city and other parts of the country yesterday following the suspension of work by the Judiciary.
The Deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Kikonyogo (right), on Friday announced the suspension, saying it would last until March 9 when judges meet to review their decision.
At the High Court, some judges were seen dressed casually and without the usual Police escorts. Some court registrars also reported but were in their offices.
A support staff at the High Court said, “We are not judicial officers. We are civil servants under the Public Service commission. That is why we reported to work.â€
At the Buganda Road Court, the gates were closed to the public. There was one security guard manning the gate with few policemen.
Nakawa Court offices were closed save for a policeman who was manning the gates, who said the chief magistrate came in the morning, picked newspapers and left.
At the Constitution Square, the Police was heavily deployed. Grace Turyagumanawe, the regional Police commander, was seen giving orders to his juniors.
In Lira, the trial of 205 suspects charged with capital offences was put on hold.
The district High Court session was supposed to open yesterday according to the cause list released by the Principal Judge.
Suspects charged with simple cases were escorted back to Lira and Erute prisons without their warrants signed by court officials.
People who turned up to have their cases heard went back bitter.
“If the government cannot sort out its problems with the judges, all prisoners should be released,†one person was heard saying.
In Mbale, suspects were told to wait for communication from the Chief Registrar of the Courts of Judicature.
Inmates who were transported from the central government prisons were taken back to the cells at around 10:00am.
Both the High Court registry and the Chief Magistrate’s court registry remained open.
Court clerks and other support staff also stayed on stand-by. The car park was empty save for the vehicle of the chief magistrate and acting deputy chief registrar, Musimbi Musene who drove in at around 11:36am. Musimbi who was casually dressed, remained within closed doors in his chambers.
In Mityana, prison officers were stranded with about 50 suspects.
Angel Okello, the officer in-charge of CID, said he had read about the suspension but had not received official communication.
He said they will be forced to release suspects on bond if the courts do not resume work.
“We had over 20 suspects to take to court. We found it locked at 9:00. a.m. We are still stranded with them as we plan what to do next,†Okello said.
However, the Chief justice, Benjamin Odoki, Kikonyogo and the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, yesterday met at the High Court over the issue. Sources said the trio was yesterday due to meet President Museveni at State House.
The suspension followed the re-arrest of PRA suspects at the High Court premises after they were granted bail.