'Judiciary is not a racket of mafias'

By Hillary Nsambu and Job Bwire              

The Judiciary has assured the public that it does not operate as a racket of mafias in its system as it was reported in one of the daily newspapers early this month.

The Judiciary’s Assistant Public Relations Officer, Araali-Muhiirwa Kagoro, Wednesday told journalists at a monthly briefing in Kampala that the story that was attributed to Justice Anup Singh Choudry by on May 8 had since infuriated the members of the Bench at all levels.

However, Muhiirwa, who is also a Grade One magistrate at Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ court, said that Choudry has since denied ever having uttered such a word and; that he was quoted out of context.

“The Judiciary wishes to assure the people of Uganda and the world at large that there are no mafias in the rank and file of the Judiciary. The Judiciary does not operate as a racket of mafias in its system. The newspaper story was unfortunate, malicious and intended to bring into disrepute the institution of the Judiciary and it should, therefore, be regarded in contempt in all respects,” Muhiirwa told journalists.

He said that judicial officers were not allowed to address the media, except only those that were designated including the Chief Justice (CJ), the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ), the Principal Judge (PJ), the Chief Registrar (CR) and the official Judiciary spokes persons (PROs).

Reacting to the recent calls by several people demanding punishment of judicial officers, who allegedly made wrong judicial decisions, Muhiirwa said that no judicial decisions would be overturned administratively, but through laid down procedures of appeal, review or revision, which the public should exercise.

“These legal provisions are intended to promote, protect and galvanize the independence of the Judiciary as a whole and; to shield the individual judicial officers from undue influence, threats or intimidation of any kind,” Muhiirwa emphasized.

He, however, noted that where a judicial officer is involved in acts of indiscipline, breach of law, violating the Uganda Code of Judicial Conduct or any other unethical behavior, such acts should be reported to the Judiciary management.

“A person is free to petition the Chief Justice, Principal Judge, Chief registrar, Inspector of Court or the Judicial Service Commission to investigate any acts of indiscipline. In a bid to promote discipline, ethical and professional conduct, the Judiciary constituted a disciplinary committee and the judiciary integrity committee for the enforcement of discipline in the judiciary” he reassured the public.