KAMPALA – Chief Justice Bart M. Katureebe on Monday met with the World Bank Group delegation at Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala, as the group presented an Interim Report on the Public Expenditure and Institutional Review of the Judiciary of Uganda.
“World Bank coming to make an analysis of our performance and impact on Uganda’s economic development is timely and welcome”, Justice Katureebe said, adding: “I would want the world bank to go on with the report with even more beef to it.”
“The Report outlines the role of the Judiciary in Uganda’s economic development, it’s budget allocation and expenditure analysis, judicial performance and data management,” said Barabara Magezi, a Senior Public Sector Specialist, in her outset remarks.
Deborah Isser, the WB’s Lead Governance Specialist with the World Bank together with Romain Galgani, a Consultant stressed the crucial need for collecting, managing and analyzing data if the Judiciary is to ensure appropriate utilization of funds which ultimately will lead to improved productivity.
When completed this Report will highlight the gaps in the arm’s budget vis-a-vis its human resource and performance.
Practical steps to improve utilization of data are included in the Report, including how to use the statistics in identifying and informing probable solutions to backlog, most appropriate policy response, how to improve performance of Judicial Officers, and communication needs intended to broadcast Judiciary’s successes.
While Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo was interested in the Interim Report suggesting alternative manpower and budget figures, the Principal Judge, Flavian Zeija, on the other hand, urged the group to comprehensively elaborate on the methodology used to collect and analyze the data which informs the Report.
Notable among others present to give an input to the report were Judges; Wamala Boniface and Suzan Abinyo, Ag. Chief Registrar, Tom Chemutai, Secretary to Judiciary, Mr Pius Bigirimana, the Solicitor General, Francis Atoke, and a delegation from the Uganda Bureau of Statics.
The World Bank group pledged to avail the Final Draft Report to the Judiciary Top Management by the end of March, for as long as the relevant offices will collaboratively provide them with the missing data required.
