Dr Flavian Zeija, the Principal Judge of Uganda, has revealed that installing a biometric registration system is one of the ways the judiciary is mooting in order to curb acts of absenteeism by judicial officers.
Dr Zeija added that a biometric system will not be enough but it will also be backed up with a video monitoring system in order to capture all judicial officers who are always absent including those who always come late for work.
“Some of the innovations that we are coming up with is the biometric thump print machines for judicial officers to sign in and out of the station, a video monitoring system so as to stamp out absenteeism and late coming by court staff. This will strengthen mediation and improvement of information technology application in the judicial system,” Dr Zeija said.
He remarked while in Arua yesterday where he met security chiefs who included West Nile Regional Police Commander, Regional Spokesperson, Arua City political and technical leadership, and Community liaison police officers.
Zeija also said the judiciary intends to improve service delivery by ensuring that court services are extended closure to the people so that they can stop trekking kilometers in pursuit of justice.
“We shall increase staffing, construct better court premises, and decentralize inspectors of courts to check on the performance of judicial officers. We are also considering setting up courts at the Refugee settlements for the expeditious handling of cases involving refugees and asylum seekers,” Dr Zeija added.
One of the biggest challenges in seeking justice in Uganda is delayed justice where cases especially those related to land matters take ages to be concluded and victims die or get frustrated. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo and his judiciary permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana have embarked on setting up magistrate’s courts at every sub-county and high courts in every region.