Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has extolled the Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo, for steering the Judiciary. While speaking at the swearing of newly appointed judges, Museveni said Dollo has improved the performance of the Judiciary.
“I really congratulate the new Judges and I want to thank the Chief Justice for the passion he has put into making the judiciary effective,” he said.
The newly appointed judges are; Elizabeth Musoke, Stephen Musota, and Madrama Christopher Martin Izama, all of these will serve in the Supreme Court. Two other judges sworn in were Eva Luswata Kauma and Oscar John Kihika are all going to serve in the Court of Appeal.
The oaths were administered by the Judiciary Chief Registrar, Ms Sarah Langa Siu, Justice Museveni took the judges through the economic history of the country pointing out that the economy had virtually collapsed.
Museveni said the British had left behind what they dubbed at the University as an enclave economy of three Cs that was coffee, copper, and cotton. He also talked about the three Ts that are Tobacco, Tea, and Tourism.
He added that when NRM came to power in 1986, the government aimed at reversing the whole process and concentrated on four principle areas that were minimum recovery, expansion of the economy, diversification, and promoting a qualitative economy based on knowledge like the innovation of electric mobility.
The head of state stressed that diagnostical analysis of society is always done by the political leadership that includes the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary who act as Medical Doctors observing that if the diagnosis is wrongly done, the economy will collapse but if done correctly the economy will flourish.
Museveni said some of the concerns raised by the judicial officers especially those bearing some financial implications in the judiciary, President Museveni pledged to convene a meeting of all the arms of government to collectively agree on how to pave a way forward for further improvement of their performance.
Dollo in his remarks thanked President Museveni for his unwavering support that has changed the performance of the Judiciary for the better. “With the enhanced budget we have been able to double the number of judicial officers,” he said.
According to Dollo, High Court circuits have been created in Moroto, Tororo,
Iganga, Bulemezi, Rukungiri, and Hoima purposely intended to reduce case backlog and also extend judicial services to the citizens.
Nobert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs also praised the President for his support of the Judiciary noting that services have tremendously improved. “We have received unprecedented support from you personally, the Executive, and Parliament as manifested in the improved terms of service and improved infrastructural development,” Mao said.
Mao further observed that an enhanced budget manifests that there will be less dependence on donors. The Justice Minister announced that the new structure of the judiciary is in the offing to ensure that Judges appointed have the necessary support.