Seven Commercial Court staff face corruption charges

GRAFT|CRIME|COMMERCIAL COURT

About seven Commercial Court staff face prosecution over allegations of  maladministration and corruption.

Addressing journalists at the Commercial Court building in Kampala on Tuesday, Justice Dr Henry Peter Adonyo said two staff are being prosecuted at the Anti-Corruption Court, while about five have been referred to the Judiciary for disciplinary
action.

The judge did not name the errant staff who are battling the allegations.
Recently, Jude Sseruwu, a court clerk attached to the division, was charged with allegedly forging judicial documents to steal sh1.6b from Bank of Uganda. Since then, there has been a reshuffle, where old staff were replaced with new ones.

"All of us get insufficient wages or salaries, but while working, you should avoid being corrupt. We want to make this court corruption-free," Adonyo said.

The Commercial Court has six judges, three registrars and 65 support staff, who work in shifts due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

"The re-organisation of the registries has entailed separation of where files and documents are received and where court clerks sit to avoid mixing of duties. File and document movements are recorded in the movement book, which is signed by both the receiver and dispatcher to ensure tracking," he said.

According to the court head, the process willhelp i n tracking cases and ensuring safety of files.

He also said the archive has been reorganised to ensure that completed records are filed in chronological manner to make them available.

Adonyo also said all court files and documents are being tracked electronically. He said the division recently received 11 new computers as a move to support CCAS and the upcoming Electronic Court Case Management Information System that is soon being piloted in the division.