The head of the Mpigi High Court circuit, Justice Anthony Oyuko Ojok, has urged advocates and judicial officers to embrace professionalism, integrity and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as key pillars in improving justice delivery and reducing case backlog at the Court.
Speaking during a Bar–Bench meeting held on Thursday at Mpigi High Court, Justice Oyuko said the engagement was intended to create an open platform where members of the Bench and Bar could collectively address challenges affecting service delivery within the justice system.
The hybrid meeting, conducted both physically and virtually, was attended by advocates, judicial officers and court staff, with Resident Judge Lady Justice Deepa Verma also participating in the discussions.
Justice Oyuko revealed that the Court is
currently undertaking intensified criminal sessions and plea bargain proceedings, with both judges presiding over daily criminal hearings, particularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as part of deliberate efforts to reduce the growing backlog of cases.
He noted that judicial officers occasionally contribute personal resources to facilitate witnesses and ensure proceedings continue without unnecessary interruptions.
“We must continue working together to improve service delivery while maintaining professionalism, integrity and mutual respect in the administration of justice,” he said.
Justice Oyuko encouraged advocates to make greater use of mediation and other ADR mechanisms, describing them as effective tools for resolving disputes faster while preserving relationships among litigants.
He further disclosed that challenges relating to missing court files had been resolved, but stressed the need for lawyers to comply with court timelines in order to support timely disposal of matters before court.
Justice Oyuko also expressed concern over cases of professional misconduct among some advocates, particularly allegations involving forged affidavits of service and forged signatures of court process servers.
He cautioned members of the legal profession against practices that undermine the credibility of the justice system and urged advocates to uphold ethical standards in their interactions with colleagues, litigants and court staff.
In her remarks, Lady Justice Deepa reaffirmed her commitment to improving engagement between the Bench and the Bar, noting that her previous experience in legal practice enabled her to understand many of the challenges advocates encounter.
She disclosed that a Bar–Bench forum had been established to address several concerns without necessarily requiring advocates to travel to Mpigi High Court.
Lady Justice Deepa also emphasized the importance of mediation, highlighting the existence of a vibrant mediation registry at the Court and plans to streamline mediation processes by encouraging advocates to file mediation summaries together with pleadings.
During the interactive session, members of the Bar raised concerns regarding mediators allegedly charging litigants despite facilitation by the Judiciary, unnecessary adjournments by some advocates, and understaffing in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In response, judicial officers clarified that mediators are not supposed to charge litigants and emphasized that plea bargain proceedings remain available at all times and are not restricted to official court sessions.
The meeting concluded with members of the Bar commending judicial officers for efforts aimed at strengthening justice delivery and pledging continued cooperation in promoting efficient and professional administration of justice at Mpigi High Court.
The session was moderated by Deputy Registrar Goretti Arinaitwe.
