The quarterly performance review retreat for Heads of Circuits and Heads of Divisions, along with their deputies, convened on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the Imperial Golf View Hotel, Entebbe. Chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, who also heads the case backlog monitoring committee, the meeting aimed to assess performance, set targets for the upcoming quarter, and address caseload management.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress made during the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023/2024, Deputy Chief Justice Buteera urged the attendees to strategize for continued improvement. He emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination among justice institutions to enhance overall performance and better serve Uganda’s population.
The retreat, convened by Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija, served as a platform for sharing best practices, learning, and benchmarking. It aimed to provide insights on how to further enhance performance and meet the needs of the populace effectively.
Addressing the challenges faced at various judicial stations, Deputy Chief Justice Buteera stressed the importance of adhering to strategies aimed at reducing or eliminating case backlogs. He urged judges to prioritize timely delivery of judgments and rulings, emphasizing that court decisions should ideally be delivered within 60 days from the date of hearing and submission closure.
The issue of delayed judgments and rulings was echoed by Principal Judge Zeija, who emphasized the need to strike a balance between case hearings and decision delivery. Highlighting the frustrations faced by court users due to delayed judgments, he urged judges to avoid accumulating pending judgments to ensure efficient legal processes.
Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu expressed gratitude to the judges for their participation in deliberating on issues affecting court performance. The retreat, funded by the Government of Uganda in collaboration with the International Development Law Organization, exemplifies the commitment to improving judicial processes and enhancing access to justice for all citizens.
