KAMPALA: The Judiciary has shelved plans to construct the regional courts of appeal in Mbarara and Gulu cities this financial year due to budget constraints.
The Judiciary Permanent Secretary, Pius Bigirimana, told URN in an interview at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday that while they drafted a budget of Shillings 575 billion for the 2022/2023 financial year, only Shillings 381 billion were allocated, which has affected numerous projects.
He explains that key among the affected projects is the proposed construction of two regional courts of appeal in Mbarara and Gulu cities.
Currently, there is one court of appeal located in Kampala. Bigirimana says that also affected by the tight budget are the planned expansion of the Nakawa-based Judicial Training Institute; the recruitment of 20 High Court judges; 40 Chief Magistrates; and 60 Grade One Magistrates; and the purchase of four video conferencing machines.
He now says that, given the inadequate resources, the judiciary will only recruit and cater to 10 High Court Judges, five Chief Magistrates, 30 Grade One Magistrates, three Registrars, four deputy Registrars, and 438 nonjudicial staff.
According to the breakdown of the budget, 210 billion schillings will go to nonwage expenditure, 108 billion schillings on wages, and the remaining 63 billion schillings will finance development projects in the judiciary.
Bigirimana, however, noted that despite the funding shortfall, the judiciary is committed to dispensing effective justice, adding that money will never be enough and only calls for proper management of the little resources available.
At different events, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has said that he dreams of a judiciary where the people of Uganda will no longer have to travel long distances for justice but at least have a Grade One Magistrate in every subcounty.