PADYERE COUNTY MP HON. OTIMGIW ISAAC ISMAIL.
 

BY: EDITOR

Members of Parliament have called on the government to allocate an additional Shs48.5 billion to the Judiciary to strengthen case adjudication, facilitate court assessors, and effectively manage election petitions.

The proposal was presented by the Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Legal Committee, John Teira, while tabling the committee’s report on the ministerial policy statements for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Teira emphasized the need for increased funding to support the timely disposal of cases, facilitate court sessions, and ensure daily hearings and operations across the 269 functional courts. He noted that the Judiciary is targeting the handling of at least 60,000 cases, alongside managing election petitions and facilitating witnesses summoned by court.

He further highlighted the need to finance locus visits at various court levels, with a target of at least 55,112 visits, as well as the facilitation of court assessors, proposing a minimum of three assessors per judge.

Additionally, Teira recommended the allocation of Shs31.9 billion to enable the Judiciary to provide legal representation to all individuals charged with capital offences punishable by death or life imprisonment, in line with constitutional provisions.

Meanwhile, Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, urged the committee to also examine the independence of the Judiciary.

Padyere County MP, Isaac Otimgiw, welcomed the proposal, noting that increased funding would play a critical role in addressing the persistent case backlog.