New high court circuit gives Greater Bushenyi justice breather
BUSHENYI | Residents of Greater Bushenyi districts of Mitooma, Rubirizi, Sheema, Buhweju and Bushenyi will no longer have to travel to Mbarara for justice after the Judiciary accorded them a jurisdiction.
The Judiciary launched a high court circuit in Bushenyi District on Tuesday and appointed Amos Kwizeera as a resident judge.
The development is a judicial breather for Greater Bushenyi, whose residents have for years endured the burden of case backlog and con men making the most of their frustration while waiting for justice in Mbarara.
"The Judiciary wants to make it more convenient for all our people to easily access judicial services," Principal Judge Flavian Zeija said at the launch on Tuesday.
"At all levels of the hierarchy of courts this is intended to make it cheap and less tiresome while at the same time we ensure fair and timely delivery of Justice to all manner of people who seek our services.”
Judge Zeija said the Judiciary has been pursuing the implementation of its strategic plan and transformation agenda by establishing more courts across the country in order to bring justice services closer to the people and eliminate case backlog.
Sharing the challenges of the people affecting the people of Bushenyi, the district chairman Jafari Basajjabalaba highlighted the challenges and delays with bail money.
"We are excited to have our own high court circuit, but I also want to use the opportunity to share the pain our people go through to get the bail refund, it delays and some don’t get it may be because the people don’t know,” Basajjabalaba said.
The Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa, cautioned judicial officers not to frustrate the circuit but rather facilitate the judicial work in dispensing justice.
“Each one of us has a role in keeping the smile that we are having today by supporting the administration of justice," Ms Langa said.
"As judicial officers, when the high court calls for a file, are you going to send it in time or you're also going to frustrate that process by refusing or delaying to send so that an appeal is handled?"
Currently, over 800 cases are being handled at the new high court circuit in Bushenyi although some files are still at the Mbarara High Court Circuit.
The Bushenyi High Court Circuit is still being housed by the magistrate’s court but has ready land available provided by the district and awaits titling which is expected to be ready by the end of March.
