KABALE – Authorities in Kabale District have expressed concern over the prolonged judgments in Ugandan courts regarding land-related issues, leading to the unfortunate loss of land by many individuals.
This concern was raised yesterday during the Kabale High Court open day at the court premises on Kikungiri hill in Kabale Municipality. The event marked the commemoration of the theme “Enhancing Judicial Accountability and Access to Justice.”
Andrew Ronald Bakak, the Deputy Resident Commissioner of Kabale, highlighted that land court cases are sometimes deliberately delayed, potentially to solicit bribes. He specifically pointed to court clerks extending the dates for cases. Bakak emphasized that there is no justifiable reason for a judge to spend a decade on a land case when alternative methods like mediation have proven effective in preserving land ownership. He revealed that his office handles at least ten land-related cases each week and urged the judiciary to reconsider its policies to ensure timely attention to land cases.
CUE IN BAKAK……ON THE ISSUE……LUG/ENG//
Responding to these concerns, Honorable Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, the Principal Judge of the High Court of Uganda and the chief guest at the event, attributed the delayed judgments to a shortage of judicial officers capable of handling the workload efficiently. He disclosed that the judiciary is in the process of recruiting additional lawyers and expanding court facilities to bring justice closer to the public, aiming to resolve cases more promptly.
CUE IN JUSTICE FLAVIAN……ON THE MATTER……RR/ENG//
The situation underscores the need for urgent reforms to streamline the judicial process, ensuring that land-related cases receive the attention they deserve. The authorities are optimistic about the forthcoming recruitment and court expansions, anticipating positive changes in the efficiency of the judicial system.
