KAMPALA – Earlier in the week, representatives from different Development Partner agencies and the the Justice, Law and Order Sector paid Buganda Road Court a visit to learn how the Video Conferencing facility at the court works and it’s impact.
The group, which was led by Ms Racheal Odoi Musoke, the JLOS Senior Technical Adviser, were received by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Miriam Ayo Okello.
HW Ayo showed the team how presiding Judicial Officers Miriam Okello conduct online court. “Using this facility (pointing to the three screens in the courtroom), we have direct contact between court and Luzira prison, in real time.”
The system allows seamless sharing of court evidence and presentations which can be accessed and reviewed by all parties in the court system from anywhere in the world.
On the issue of confidentiality of accused persons, the Chief Magistrate explained that the system has provision for private viewing which the lawyers utilise as well as a component for easy viewing by the entire court.
She added, “we also use some of our clerks, Police and Prison officers as JLOS family to help with interpretations. It is only on foreign languages where we use Makerere University and Office of Prime Minister for easy interpretation.”
The team commended the Courts for their efforts in improving justice delivery especially in the face of Covid-19.
The visit came on the heels of monitoring and evaluation exercise at the construction site of the Sembabule Justice Centres.
The visiting team included representatives from UNDP, UN Women, Unicef, Austrian Development Cooperation, Netherlands Embassy and UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
