Judiciary Editorial Committees Inaugurated

Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe with members of the Judiciary Editorial Committee

KAMPALA – As one of the measures to empower its judicial officers’ to effectively administer justice and to streamline information flow from the Judiciary to the public, two important committees have been set up.

The Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe on June 11, 2015 inaugurated the Bench Book Committee and the Judiciary Editorial Board headed by a Supreme Court justice and a High Court Judge respectively.

Hon. Justice John Wilson Tsekooko (Supreme Court) is to chair the six-man Bench Book Committee whose members are Hon. Justice Richard Buteera (Court of Appeal), Hon. Justice David Wangutusi (head of Commercial Court), Director Law Development Centre, the President Uganda Law Society, and His Worship Festo Nsenga, an Assistant Registrar, who will be the Committee secretary.

The Committee’s first mandate is to conclude and publish the Civil Bench Book, earlier drafted by the Law Development Centre, to help standardize court procedural matters and eliminate unnecessary delays in the administration of justice.

Hon. Justice Katureebe said it is important for judicial officers to have a "sound and unequivocal knowledge of the Civil Procedures Rules to guide the judicial process”.

Hon. Justice Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe (High Court Civil Division) chairs the Editorial Board which has His Worship Paul Gadenya Wolimbwa (Chief Registrar), Mrs. Dorcas W. Okalany (Secretary to the Judiciary), His Worship Erias Omar Kisawuzi (Public Relations Officer), Her Worship Jessica Chemeri (Senior Law Reporting Officer) as members, and Mr. Solomon Muyita (Senior Communications Officer) as secretary to the Board.

The Chief Justice urged the Editorial Board to maximize modern methods of communication and the social media to promote greater public understanding of the work of the Judiciary. "The Editorial Committee has a huge challenge in educating the public about the law to empower them to effectively participate in the administration of justice…the Judiciary should be rebranded into a unique organization with a good reputation and integrity,” said Hon. Justice Katureebe.

Committee functions:

Bench Book Committee: It is tasked to review the Draft Civil Justice Bench Book to make it conform to the laws of Uganda; make recommendations for improving the draft; present the Book in an easy-to-read language and style; and advise the Chief Justice on the most cost effective way of publishing and disseminating Bench Books, among other things.

Judiciary Editorial Board: Its duty is to regularly plan, review and approve the content of official positions of the Judiciary intended for the public; enhance and sustain information sharing and communication to improve public trust and confidence in the Judiciary; create general awareness about the courts in Uganda; oversee the branding of the Judiciary as well as the production of the Judiciary Insider and other publications, among other things.