Ogoola calls for JSC independent investigative body

Sep 08, 2014

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) chairman James Munange Ogoola has expressed the desire for the Commission to have a fully-fledged, independent investigating department to deal with the numerous complaints against alleged errant judicial officers.

By Hillary Nsambu        
                    
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) chairman James Munange Ogoola has expressed the desire for the Commission to have a fully-fledged, independent investigating department to deal with the numerous complaints against alleged errant judicial officers.



The retired Principal Judge, Ogoola, was addressing magistrates at their 5th annual general meeting held at Colline Hotel, Mukono on Friday.


He said that currently, the JSC lacked an independent and effective investigating department that is needed to independently investigate more effectively the numerous cases brought against judicial officers.


“In future the Commission will inevitably need to create an independent investigating department that would investigate more effectively the numerous allegations the public file against judicial officers deemed to be acting contrary to their profession and work ethics,” Ogoola said.


However, Ogoola was not specific as to exactly when the JSC intended to put in place the proposed investigating department and from which other professional bodies the investigators would be drawn other than the legal fraternity. 


Meanwhile, JSC’s deputy registrar, directorate of planning and research Julius Mwebembezi told the meeting that featured magistrates from all over the country that the common complaints received and processed by the Commission included bribery, delayed judgments, laziness, abuse of judicial power, insubordination, conversion of bail money and absenteeism.


The others include bias, being rude and harsh, misuse of cash deposits, charging litigants to visit places of dispute (locus-in-quo), failure to provide maintenance for children sired outside wedlock, ex-parte communication, whereby the judicial officer meeting one party to the proceedings without notice to the adverse party.


Other complaints include drunkenness and sexual immorality.


Mwebembezi urged the magistrates to guard against all sorts of behaviors that are contrary to their profession and work ethics to avoid interdiction and prosecution and public embarrassment.

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