KAMPALA – “The Judiciary is pushing to better your remuneration. Although we faced a setback from Cabinet, the Chief Justice has written to the President so don’t lose hope,” the Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija, reassured administrative staff at Mukono High Court on Friday.
The PJ made the remarks while concluding his inspection of courts under Mukono High Court Circuit.
During the three day inspection, the PJ received reports of improved service delivery and heightened levels of integrity in the courts.
He thus urged staff to keep up the good work and avoid temptations of “short termism” vices such as corruption.
“I encourage you to be able to do two things; work hard and have integrity.”
He noted that the administration was not oblivious to the staff’s financial constraints.
“We now have a new Judiciary where we are supposed to determine our own terms of reference,” he noted.
He explained that following the enactment of the Administration of Judiciary Act, the institution is meant to go through a transitional period within which a phased implementation of its provisions is done including migrating administrative staff from Public Service to the Judiciary Service.
On her part, the Chief Registrar, Ms Sarah Langa Siu, appealed to the staff to prepare for a new Judiciary and drop the vices that hinder justice delivery.
Among the plans she listed to enhance service delivery the Chief Registrar highlighted on the set up of Audio-Visual link facilities in all High Court circuits and some Chief Magistrate courts, the construction of a Judiciary central archive, recruitment of judicial officers, supporting peer learning and training.
She, however, decried the practice of some judicial officers who upon transfer or promotion do not complete cases pending judgment before moving stations.
The PJ and CR tasked the judicial officers to draft a list of all cases pending judgement saying the culpable officers will be required to deliver the judgements thereof.