Judiciary To Go Digital Next Week

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news May 16, 2021

In a bid to improve efficiency and reduce case backlog, the Judiciary will introduce electronic court system next week as the sector embraces digital technology.

According to Counsel Karemani Kamson, electronic court system to be launched on 19th May will be piloted in all Kampala courts and rolled out in Jinja before its extended to other districts country wide.

“Electronic court system will help people file cases without going to court while enable the general public to follow up cases digitally using smart phones technology enabled devise to improve efficiency,” Karemani said.

He added that the new electronic court system will improve efficiency,ease timely transfer of files from manual to digital system so that judges can easily access files even at home adding that the system will also eliminate any firm of corruption by clerks in day today dealings.

According to Karemani full automation of the system has costed government sh5 billion.

Karemani revealed the development to lawyers, civil society actors and students at the public dialogue at Makerere University.

The dialogue was organised by school of law, Human Rights Peace Centre and Network of Public Interest Lawyers under the theme: Judicial Independence and Impartiality: which way for Uganda.

Karemani however assured lawyers and general public of judicial independence in future as government strikes to improve on efficiency to deliver quality service in the changing times.

“Government is committed to ensuring that judges are free to exercise their judicial powers without interference from litigants, the state, the media or powerful individuals or entities. We are investing into technology to ensure timely service and address inefficiency and any form of corruption in judiciary, “he said.

However Makerere University law Don Dr Daniel Tumwebaze is optimistic that Uganda can still attain judicial independence despite after math of black mamba and court siege in recent times.

“it is vitally important on a democracy that individual judges and the Judiciary as a whole are impartial and independent of all external pressures. They should also be independent of each other so that those who appear before them and the wider public can have confidence that their cases will be decided fairly and in accordance with the law. When carrying out their judicial function they must be free of any improper influence,”he said.

The dialogue was attended by journalists, human rights defenders, academicians, civil society actors, judicial officers, lawyers and students.

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