CJ Owiny-Dollo cautions Judiciary staff against corruption

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Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo says he is ready to forgive any judicial officer for anything but not one who engages in 'the cancerous vice of corruption'.

The chief justice remarked on Saturday, April 4, 2024, while officiating at the Annual General Meeting and election of new leaders for the Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA) held on Friday at Hotel Africana, Kampala.

Owiny-Dollo is the patron of UJOA. High Court Judge Olive Kazaarwe was elected as the President of UJOA replacing Justice Tadeo Asiimwe.

The chief justice said corruption is very painful on justice seekers and that he will not get tired of condemning it.

He asked judicial officers to imagine themselves as justice seekers and imagine how painful it is when they do not get the service they deserve. He used an analogy of a person who has a sick child and goes to the hospital and fails to get treatment.

He said this is painful and it is the same as being a corrupt judicial officer: "You may fail on anything else but maintain integrity. I will forgive you for everything else but corruption, No! It goes against the very cracks of your purpose of being a judicial officer".

According to the Chief Justice, he has received many complaints about some judicial officers’ conduct. He added that he has called some of them to his chambers and cautioned them sternly. 

"You can either be a judicial officer or purport to be one", he said.

He said that the judiciary will open up new regional inspectorate offices. This he said will make everyone feel the pressure as they do their work, especially if they are the ones dragging the Judiciary back in terms of development.

"We need to see integrity among the staff of the Judiciary. We need to rid the Judiciary of corrupt officers. We have to fight incompetence and laziness. This is the only way we can account for the public funds we receive, redeem our name and offer impactful services. We will all be each other's keeper so as to have the Judiciary we are all proud of", he said.

He emphasised that judicial officers should not fear being accused by the public if they know they are doing the right thing.

He wants the judiciary disciplinary committee to be strengthened so as to deal with indiscipline of errant officers before they are sent to Judicial Service Commission.

The chief justice revealed that they are in the process of amending the relevant laws to enhance the civil and criminal jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts so that they are empowered to handle more cases.

Consequently, this action will reduce case backlog at the High Court level, where it is highest.

Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu encouraged the UJOA members to always thank the Chief Justice, especially for enhancing the judiciary budget.

Langa said the chief Justice put up a spirited fight to make sure that members of the lower bench have their salaries enhanced and therefore members should learn to give credit where it's due.

She said they should be thankful for the increase in numbers of judicial officers which has also increased membership of UJOA.

Langa highlighted some challenges such as lack of a deployment policy.

She said there is going to be a hybrid meeting at the end of the month to discuss the draft policy and its implementation.

In the same vein the grievance handling mechanisms and transportation issues will be tackled.

She noted that at least 20 pickup vehicles are set to be given to members of the lower bench. While alluding to biblical teachings, Langa asked the new UJOA president to promote unity in the association.

The day climaxed with a cocktail dinner/Sherry Party at the Legends Club in Naguru.