The Judiciary is set to organize its first national annual court open day in a bid to enhance public engagement and bring judicial services closer to the people. The event, scheduled for February 29th, 2024, will take place at Kololo Independence Grounds and aims to facilitate interactions between judicial officers and the public, offering insights into court processes and welcoming feedback.
Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu emphasized that the open day is a unique opportunity for Judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and seven High Court Divisions to gather in one place. Various stakeholders, including the Inspector General of Government, Uganda Prisons Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Police Force, and legal service providers, will join the judicial officers at the event. The public is encouraged to participate in large numbers.
The announcement was made during a media briefing about the upcoming 25th Annual Judges’ Conference, scheduled from February 5th to 8th, themed “A People-Centered Approach to Justice.” The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of views and experiences among judicial officers, addressing topics such as case backlog strategies, artificial intelligence tools for judgment writing, health issues like cancer management, parenting skills for judicial officers, and the management of financial and non-financial resources within the Judiciary.
Following the conference, two significant events are planned: the launch of the new law year on February 9th, 2024, and the commissioning of newly constructed twin-tower buildings housing the Appellate Courts. Justice Mike Chibita, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, highlighted that all Judges, Registrars, Deputy Registrars, and Assistant Registrars will attend the conference. While the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court will not conduct hearings during this period, all registries will remain open.
Regarding the commissioning of the Supreme and Court of Appeal buildings, Judiciary Permanent Secretary Dr. Pius Bigirimana revealed that the construction, initially projected for three years, was extended to four years due to the addition of another floor to host conferences. The construction cost the Judiciary 110 billion shillings and includes facilities such as courtrooms, libraries, registries, parking space, saunas, breastfeeding rooms, gyms, and saunas.
