BUVUMA – On Wednesday, the Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija, flanked by Chief Registrar, Ms Sarah Langa Siu, resumed the tour of courts under Mukono High Court circuit. These had been halted by the countrywide lockdown in June to avert the spread of COVID-19.
By 7am, Dr Zeija and the Chief Registrar were already at Kiyindi landing site ready to board a water vessel that would ferry them to Buvuma Islands for inspection of courts under Lugazi magisterial area.
The team was received by the Lugazi Chief Magistrate, Ms Stella Maris Amabilis. She led the PJ to a hotel where local leaders had prepared a sumptuous breakfast for him. Among the leaders present was the Resident District Commissioner, LC5 Chairperson and Chief Administrative officer of Buvuma Islands.
This was followed by a report from the CM detailing all the challenges of the court which serves 52 different islands. Thereafter, she led the PJ-led team on a guided tour of the court premises as well as the land which was donated by the district leadership for the construction of a court.
From the islands, the PJ visited Buikwe (G1) Court under the care of HW Egessa Wilberforce and Lugazi (CM) courts whose total workload was reported at 84 and 492 cases respectively.
Although at all the courts visited stakeholders hailed the Judiciary for posting a substantive Chief Magistrate at Lugazi court, they expressed their dire need for resident Magistrates Grade One at the stations.
“Because of the difficulty in accessibility here, Buvuma should be prioritised,” the PJ said in response. He also promised to deploy a Magistrate Grade One at Lugazi within a year.
Adding; “we are trying to bring justice close to the people, our focus is that we deploy a Magistrate Grade One to each sub county, this should be done in the next three years.”
The CR on the other hand applauded Lugazi court for keeping a model-like archives and commended the teamwork exhibited by all JLOS stakeholders within the magisterial area.
“My appeal to you now as stakeholders is to assist courts in fighting corruption,” Ms Langa said, adding that the Judiciary has embarked on an effort to change its outlook and improve the institution’s image.
“We want a Judiciary that is efficient where you come and in five minutes you register a case, you are served and go home. Words associated with Judiciary should not be corruption but rather Justice for all,” she said.
On Thursday the PJ inspected courts at Bbaale, Galilaya and Nakifuuma and concluded the three-day tour with Mukono Chief Magistrates Court and Mukono High Court.