Judges’ and magistrates’ strike springs into day 2

As the Judges’ and Magistrates’ Strike against low salaries springs  into day 2 across the country, Justices at the a court of Appeal are conducting business of hearing cases.

At this juncture , a panel of three justices including  the DCJ Steven Kavuma, Hellen Obura and Cheborion Barishaki are hearing an  appeal filed by the Lubaga South MP Paul  Kato Lubwama challenging a Highcourt decision for a voter to file an election  petition against him outside the mandated period.

However in other courts such as the Highcourt, Commercial Court, Buganda Road court and the Anti-corruption court, business is at a stand still as judges and magistrates have not reported on duty to convene court hence leaving no choice for  prison authorities but  to drive suspects back on remand whereas the summoned witnesses have  had their transport refunded by the registry  without testifying.

The clerks are however seated in their respective registries and normal business of litigants filing civil cases in on course.

On Friday last week, judicial officers across the country resolved to lay down their tools protesting low salaries that are way below the scale compared to their counter parts in the other two arms of government on top of demanding for transport , medical and housing allowances.

Accoridng to their top executive body Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA), the industrial action is indefinite until  they recieve a written commitment from government to address their  demands.

However the Judicial Service commission has since called a meeting this afternoon to engage the top executive members of  UJOA for a way forward.