The High Court, Anti-Corruption Division, will experience disruptions this week as it moves from its current address on Mabua Road in Kololo, Kampala, to a rented four-story building on Plot 5 Lourdel Road, Nakasero. The Judiciary’s Chief Registrar, Ms. Sarah Langa Siu, issued a relocation notice on September 2 to all court users, explaining the necessity of the move.
The notice stated that during this period, the court will relocate its property, which includes uninstalling and reinstalling certain facilities related to computer networks and power backup. Services at the court will be interrupted, and cases outside the relocation period have been adjourned. However, the court will still manage filing and taking pleas.
According to Ms. Langa, the new premises are an improvement over the current location, offering more space for court chambers and registries. She mentioned that the International Crimes Division Court (ICD) has already moved to the new location.
Mr. Pius Bigirimana, the Judiciary’s permanent secretary, revealed that the government spends approximately UGX 10 billion annually on renting court premises across the country. The same building accommodated the Supreme Court last November after a fire damaged Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo’s chambers, rendering the Kololo court building uninhabitable.
Sources suggest that the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal will soon relocate to the Judiciary headquarters at the Twin Towers, near the High Court Criminal Division, and above Constitution Square in Kampala. Mr. Bigirimana pointed out that this move will reduce the government’s rent expenses by more than 6 billion shillings, saving taxpayers’ money.