Government losing on its greatest achievement of peace - Gimara
The Uganda Law Society president Francis Gimara has warned government that soon it will not have anything to boast about following the resumption of lawlessness in the country.
Speaking at the opening of the new law year at High Court in Kampala on Monday morning, Gimara said one of the greatest achievement of the NRM government has been restoration of order but said slowly this is being wiped away.
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"We are seeing patterns of lawlessness and impunity slowly returning and its not good,"Gimara said.
The Uganda Law Society president cited examples where on many occasions court orders have been put aside with impunity by people not related to the judiciary, a thing he said is wrong.
Last year, the security minister, Lt.Gen.Henry Tumukunde stopped eviction of Panamera bar following a court order in the same direction.
"It is worrying when we see people who are not in the judicial system interfering with orders,"Gimara said.
He however blasted judicial officers especially judges and the lawyers for playing a crucial role leading to lawlessness through corruption tendencies.
Gimara said that many cases have not gone the right way because of corruption by judicial officers, which has left the public without trust in the judiciary and have in turned to mob justice.
"There is a perception out there that justice is a commodity on sale and people blame justices and lawyers for the increasing cases of mob justice. "
"We need to eliminate the corruption tendencies, "Gimara urged.
He advised judicial officers to always fight to ensure rule of law as they perform their duties.
However, in response, the Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, who represented the Minister of Justice acknowledged the concerns by the Uganda Law Society president but noted government is committed to solving these challenges.
"We can work together to address these challenges, "Rukutana said.
The function was attended by the vice president Edward Ssekandi, speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Chief Justice Bart Katureebe among others.
