The Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has suggested that the
Judicial Service Commission should deploy supporting staff of the
Judiciary, especially the clerks to places where they can communicate
efficiently with court users in the local dialect.
Owiny-Dollo observes that the deployment of judicial staff who speak different languages affects the dispensation of justice. He adds that the court oftentimes has to go to nearby Police Stations
to look for officers who can help in the interpretation and translation of
Court proceedings to a local language.
He argues that the Judicial Service
Commission should be
able to know how many courts
are in a certain region and deploy clerks who can understand exactly what the Judge is saying in the ordinary language used in the area.
He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon while officiating at the
swearing-in ceremony of Supreme Court Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke as a member
of the Judicial Service Commission at the Judiciary headquarters in
Kampala.
Musoke is now part of the nine-member Commission, a statutory body mandated to recruit judicial
officers and regulate their conduct. She replaces the late Supreme Court Justice Stella Arach Amoko.
The Chief Justice also advised the commission against deploying officers
with bad records such as those who receive
money from litigants, saying this takes away the otherwise good image of the judiciary.
//Cue in; "We had a...
Cue out...court, so please."//
Lady Justice Musoke pledged to execute her work with due diligence and without fear
or favour. She said she will always welcome those brought before the
Commission for disciplinary issues and those going for job interviews without
being influenced in any manner that is not expected of her, whether they are
friends of friends or from elsewhere.
//Cue in; "I will do...
Cue out...whatever I do."//
The Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission Justice Benjamin Kabito indicated that given the
transformation in the Judiciary and with the passing of the Administration of
Judiciary Act 2020 which gives the institution autonomy, they have a lot of
pressure to meet the expectations of the people.
Kabito observed a need to recruit more judicial staff at all
levels as a serious issue that needs consideration because
the Judiciary is not fully staffed as required.
//Cue in; "The other aspect...
Cue out ...work in harmony."//
He said they want to conclude the cases before them in 11
months, review the internal policies, and prepare for
the seventh Commission which should take over in January 2025.
