Muhamad Matovu
The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has expressed his disappointment with some members of the public who run to the court of law and at the same time seek political intervention regarding legal matters.
He noted that people who mix court matters with politics complicate the issue of procedures hence undermining justice and disposal of cases.
He made the remarks during a consultative meeting on the draft guidelines on land evictions held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
“You have a decision by magistrate, appeal to the high court, you go to the president, you go everywhere... what do you want us to do?” he asked.
He urged the public to leave the court of law do its work rather than go political.
"Where the magistrate has done his or her work, the high court has done its work, the court of appeal has done, and you decide to go political ,for us we shall say sorry, we have played our part," he noted.
He however advised judicial officers especially those handling cases related to land eviction not to go astray but follow the law to the latter at all time.
"Make sure that you have done thing according to the rules, according to the law, your decision may be criticised but it will be easier for us," he said.
He called upon government to expedite amendments in the land law to include provisions guiding on how evictions should be handled without causing harm to anyone.
"Government should amend the land law and put in what we call guidelines, should be substantive provision of the law which will affect government leaders, the courts, bailiff," he said.
Justice David Wangutusi, the head of commercial court, explained that some of the proposed clauses include barring midnight evictions, evictions carried on the weekends and on short notice.
“Before you demolish the property of the person who is supposed to move out, he should be given a chance to salvage his property and in this case we are discussing the iron sheets among others," he said.
