KIRYANDONGO – Court users at Kiryandongo Chief Magistrate’s Court have asked the Chief Justice to promote the area Grade One Magistrate, Mr Augustine Alule, for exceptional services in their community.
The expressions were made during a visit by Chief Justice Bart M. Katureebe, and the Principal Judge, Dr. Yorokamu Bamwine, at the court on Tuesday afternoon to interact with litigants.
“He works with the community and carries out sensitizations to ensure there is justice…,” Sulaiman Bwayo, the Deputy District Khadi said.
The Kiryandongo LCV Vice Chairperson, Edith Aliguma, applauded the efforts of the District Chain-linked Committee that strives to resolves disputes within the district as a team.
She commended the court for having open days as one of the fora to interact with members of the public.
Ms. Aliguma noted that lack of transport for frontline Justice Law and Order Sector institutions like court, prisons and police was affecting justice delivery, especially in land matters.
In his remarks, HW Alule reported that the court has 453 cases pending of which 60 were categorised as backlog.
He said the Court had embraced Plea Bargaining and Small Claims Procedure initiatives to fight case backlog at the court.
Other Court users speak out
Silver Kuloba, a prosecutor with Uganda Wildlife Authority, thanked the Chief Justice for spearheading nature conservation with the creation of a specialised wildlife court.
Speaking on behalf of the refugees, Clement Adieye urged the court to consider holding court within the settlements as one of the ways to expedite justice delivery for refugees.
A number of court users appealed to the Chief Justice on issues of land justice.
The Masindi Resident Judge, Rugadya Atwoki, who also oversees Kiryandongo Court observed that there is a problem of land and the game park on who takes priority.
On the issue of transport, Justice Rugadya pointed out that the Masindi Chief Magistrate often uses public transport in order to reach the courts that she care-takes.
The Principal Judge and head of the High Court, as well as all subordinate courts under it, urged Magistrates to start and finish a case in the shortest time possible as one of the ways to fight case backlog.
On the issue of holding court sessions in refugee camps, Dr Bamwine said the Judiciary is working on how to roll out mobile courts in different communities.
The Chief Justice said such visits are important because they help “to get insight on how courts operate”.
He said court sessions for refugees need to incorporate cases of the host community.
The visit is part of the Chief Justice’s week-long field activities in different High Court circuits.
