President Museveni has noted an improvement in the performance of the judicial arm of government and commended the Chief Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo for making it effective.
“I really congratulate the new Judges and I want to thank the Chief Justice for the passion he has put in making the judiciary effective,” the president said.
Museveni made the remarks while meeting newly appointed/sworn-in justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal at State House. The judges included Elizabeth Musoke, Steven Musota and Madrama Izama Martin (Supreme Court judges) and Eva Luswata Kawuma for Court of Appeal.
He took the judges through the economic history of the country pointing noting that the economy had virtually collapsed.
Museveni said the British had left behind what they dubbed at the University as an enclave economy of 3Cs (Coffee, Copper and Cotton and 3Ts (Tobacco, Tea and Tourism).
“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, its diversification and promoting qualitative economy based on knowledge like the innovation of electric mobility” he said.
He lectured that diagnostical analysis of society is always done by the political leadership that include the Executive, Legislature and the 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 also pledged to convene a meeting of all the arms of government to collectively agree on how to pave a way forward especially after the judicial officers raised some issues regarding funding.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Owiny Dollo thanked the President 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.
He added that High Court circuits were created in Moroto, Tororo, Iganga, Bulemeezi, Rukungiri and in Hoima.
In another development, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Norbert Mao thanked President Museveni for his support to 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,” he noted.
Hon. Mao observed that 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.
He also extended gratitude for the support given to his Ministry since assuming office.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chief Justice Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, the Principal Judge Dr. Justice Flavian Zeija, the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission Justice Benjamin Kabiito and the Deputy Head of Public Service Mrs. Deborah Katuramu.
Others included; Secretary to the Judiciary Dr. Pius Bigirimana and the Judicial Fraternity.
