- The ceremony was presided over by the Chief Justice .
- He urged them to promote the independence of the Judiciary and provide equitable justice to all.
- They were appointed by President Museveni in acting Capacity.
The Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi Dollo has called on the sworn in 85 acting grade one and chief Magistrates to guard the independence of the Judiciary and serve equitable justice to the people of Uganda.
These took their oaths today in a ceremony held at the High Court Headquarters in Kampala.
The Chief Justice who presided over the said ceremony cautioned the Magistrates against taking bribes in the course of their work and favouring some cases against others.
Image: Judiciary Uganda
The Chief Justice added that for this Financial Year, they are opening new High Court Circuits in Nebbi, Kitgum, Apac, Kamuli, Lyantonde, Bushenyi and Kasese.
He further warned the Magistrates against laziness stating that there will be routine monitoring in which the principle Judge will be tasked to explain why a case stays without being disposed off for period of two years and it will soon move to six months.
We are here to give our people quality justice and you are the software for that kind of justice.Chief Justice, Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny Dollo
The Chief Justice also called upon the new sworn in Judicial Officers to accept whatever station they will be posted at emphasising that not everyone will have to work in Kampala and the neighboring districts.
The Judicial Officers were urged to respect the Judicial oaths they took today, manage time, build confidence in the people they serve and not choose cases to handle.
Speaking on the same Function, the Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera advised them to respect their Courts and be cautious and clear work schedules in time to avoid case backlog.
Image: Judiciary Uganda
Meanwhile, Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu warned them against acting unprofessionally, and further advised them to guard their jobs since they have joined a Judiciary that is transformed with its own Judicial Administration Act.
" When we joined the Judiciary, we were earning 600,000 shilings, but you people are lucky that you will be taking a monthly salary of 5.2million shillings and you have room to grow and upgrade through the ranks since currently, the needed number of Supreme Court justices has risen to 22" Langa noted.
She however warned them that this will only happen if they give the Judiciary and the people they serve all their best.
Image: Judiciary Uganda
She also warned them against absenteeism stating that those found culpable will be given half pay, to respect Authority and be an enemy to all vices affecting the Judiciary.
She revealed that currently, the number of casebacklog stands at 5908 cases with those at the chief Magistrate Courts standing at 1299 cases (22%) while at grade one, stands at 295 cases(5%).
She called on them to work efficiently to see that bu next year, the said casebacklog will be no more or atleast minimal.
The exercise saw one Acting Assistant Registrar, 13 Acting Chief Magistrates, three Acting Principal Magistrates Grade One, 16 Senior Magistrates Grade one and 52 Magistrates Grade One swear in.
This was the second lot of lower bench Judicial Officers to be appointed after the enactment of the Administration of the Judiciary Act, 2020.