Chief Justice directs judicial officers to clear case backlog or face disciplinary action.

The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has directed all judicial officers to deliver pending judgments and clear backlog cases within 18 months from to date or face disciplinary action.

Justice Katureebe’s directive contained in the April 28 circular was sent to justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, registrars and magistrates at different ranks.

The court census report of last year established that there are 37,827 backlogged cases in the judicial system, a figure that is alarming.

Further in his order, Justice Katureebe directed that all judgments pending beyond 60 days as at June 30, 2017 should be delivered by August 30, 2017.

According to a press statement released by Mr Solomon Muyita, the Senior Communications Officers of the Judiciary, the reports on delivery of pending judgments shall be filed monthly by the 5th  day of the following month for follow up and updates and that those who shall not abide, shall face disciplinary action

In the same bid, Justice Katureebe has appointed Court of Appeal’s Justice Richard Buteera to chair the newly established Case Backlog Reduction Monitoring Committee, which will oversee Judiciary’s Case Backlog Strategy.

Written by David Kugonza