Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera announced that the judiciary is revising the pecuniary jurisdiction of Grade I Magistrates court from UGX 20 million to UGX 100 million. This move aims to empower magistrates to preside over a wider range of cases.
The current geographical and monetary jurisdiction of a Magistrate Grade One, outlined in Sec. 207 (1) (b) of the Magistrates Court Act Cap 16, restricts them from presiding over matters exceeding twenty million shillings and prevents them from trying offenses with maximum penalties of death or life imprisonment.
During an induction ceremony for newly appointed acting and Grade I Magistrates at Collin Hotel Mukono, Justice Buteera emphasized that the revision of magistrates’ civil jurisdiction is a proactive step to alleviate the burden on the high court.
He stated, “The Judiciary is putting bits and pieces together to enhance your pecuniary jurisdiction from 20 million shillings to about 100 million. Research and consultations are still going on, but that is one of the proposals. This means that you must be ready to shoulder a lot of responsibilities, especially during this transition to the new judiciary ushered in by the enactment of the Administration of Judiciary Act 2020.”
In addition to expanding their jurisdiction, Justice Buteera encouraged the magistrates to uphold discipline and integrity by avoiding corruption, absenteeism, lateness, early departure from work, mismanagement of court records, archives, and court property, incompetence, and arrogance towards court staff and users.
He stressed the importance of recognizing the supervisory role of Chief Magistrates and other supervisors, emphasizing that these roles are detailed in the Schedule of Duties and Key Performance Indicators for Registrars and Magistrates Manual. Justice Buteera urged the magistrates to familiarize themselves with this manual.
Justice Mike Chibita, the Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute, advised the new magistrates to appreciate their appointed offices for better service delivery. He recounted an incident where a colleague, Musa Ammaari Ssemogerere, sat an examination for his girlfriend, leading to disciplinary consequences.
Ssemogerere was one of 87 magistrates appointed by the Judicial Service Commission on July 13. To ensure that magistrates are well-prepared for their roles, Justice Damalie Lwanga, the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, stated that the induction aims to train judicial officers on their responsibilities and will last for two weeks. This comprehensive training will equip them with the knowledge and skills required for their new responsibilities.
This revision in monetary jurisdiction marks a significant step in the evolution of the Ugandan judicial system, with the aim of enhancing access to justice and reducing the backlog of cases that has burdened the high court.
