Chief Justice Katureebe promises to transform judiciary

CHIEF Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe has asked the people of Uganda to support him so that he can transform the Judiciary. 

 "I shall count on your support and team work to transform the Judiciary through strengthening integrity, developing new products of justice to broaden and deepen access to justice especially for the vulnerable, institutionalizing a culture of performance and accountability amongst Judicial Officers, improving the remuneration and working conditions of Judiciary staff, promoting public engagement in the administration of justice and improving relations between the organs of the State while protecting the independence of the Judiciary," he said.

Katureebe made the assurance on Friday when he was opening the 2016 law year, his first occasion since he was appointed Chief Justice last year, vowing to work with all organs of the State and the people of Uganda to improve the administration of justice in the country.  

The chief law lord noted that 2015 was a remarkable year for the Judiciary in many respects as it scored several milestones when the President appointed a Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice after more than eighteen months of waiting.

"The President also appointed six Justices of the Supreme Court and six Justices of the Court of Appeal.  I hope that he will soon appoint the remaining 2 Justices of the Supreme Court, 2 Justices of the Court of Appeal and 16 Judges of the High Court," Katureebe said in his inaugural speech at the occasion as Chief Justice. 

He noted with deep appreciation for the first meeting ever in the history of the Judiciary, when Parliament and the Executive had cordial relations with them (Judiciary) when they met to discuss the Budget at the High Court. 

"Followed by another meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, the meetings underscored the oneness of Government without diminishing the trinity of separation of powers and the need for the three organs of the State to be adequately funded and facilitated, so as to work for the common good of the country. 

He further happily said that in the meeting with the President they agreed that that judges should retire with their full salaries, develop a policy retaining retired judges for emergency, Government to construct staff houses for judicial officers at all stations to ease their accommodations among the many other benefits for judicial officers.