Judiciary Sets Up Hotlines for Court Users

As part of its fresh clean-up campaign to restore public confidence, the Judiciary has set up SMS hotlines for the public to report malpractices in the courts.

Telephone numbers +256 (0)776 709100; +256 (0)703 707085 and +256 (0)794 702 085 have been availed to the public to send precise SMS feedback reporting incidents of unprofessional conduct against judicial officers and court support staff.

"We are determined more than ever before, to fight corruption and malpractices in the courts. We are tired of the Judiciary appearing on the list of the most corrupt institutions in Uganda,” said the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, while releasing the hotlines to the public.

Mr Paul Gadenya, the chief registrar of Courts of Judicature, said the Judiciary has a comprehensive plan to strengthen the complaints handling mechanism. "The three hotlines are just the first step in line with our improving interface with the public,” he said.

"In the near future, we shall have a revamped and well-resourced Inspectorate of Courts; we will provide Information, Education and Communication materials to empower the people to use the courts, even without a lawyer. We are also in the process of establishing a strong customer service centre at the High Court in Kampala, and we will aggressively reach the public through the internet and social media.”

The Chief Justice urged court users with evidence of any wrongdoing in the courts to SMS the information on the Hotlines provided so the reports are properly investigated and forwarded for disciplinary action.

"We are open and people can reach us by SMS so we can keep a record. Give us the facts on any form of malpractices by our staff and we shall follow up and take appropriate action,” said Hon. Justice Katureebe.

With these measures and many more to be announced, Hon. Justice Katureebe is confident that corruption and other malpractices will gradually be eliminated in the Judiciary.

Mr Gadenya said it is important for a highly centralized institution like the Judiciary to always use a multiplicity of communication because most people do not come to court.

"We will receive the complaints and deal with them promptly. We request the complainants to give us a little more information for proper follow-up purposes,” said Mr Gadenya.

Late April, Hon. Justice Katureebe announced plans to strengthen the Inspectorate of Courts to conduct increased and ad hoc court inspections, under the leadership of a Supreme Court justice, yet to be named.

The institution is also conducting continuous public engagement programmes with civic leaders and court users in different parts of the country to explain the functions of the Judiciary and the courts at the different levels.

Editors notes:

The chief justice recently wrote to individuals who have publicly claimed to have evidence of corruption against some judicial officers to present it to him. He said his administration would not defend or protect corrupt staff or judicial officers. "…furnish me with the evidence in your possession so that the necessary course of action is taken in accordance with the law and the constitution…Let us work together to improve and strengthen the administration of Justice in our country,” Justice Katureebe wrote, in part, in his letters to the different individuals between April 22 and 28. The individuals contacted are yet to get back to the chief justice with the information requested.