Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, emphasized the importance of judicial officers making decisions based on the law rather than emotions during the closing of the 25th Annual Judges’ Conference at Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Among stressed that courts serve as a foundation for legal precedents and urged judicial officers to prioritize adherence to the law to ensure the longevity of their decisions. She emphasized the need for a people-centric approach in the judiciary to enhance accountability, independence, and accessibility to justice.
Highlighting the significance of transparency in judicial processes, Among urged for the openness of decisions and actions to public scrutiny, emphasizing the accountability of both the public and judicial officers to legal requirements.
She underscored the importance of professionalism, ethics, and decorum in dispensing judicial services, emphasizing the responsibility of providing just, fair, and satisfactory service to the citizens.
Among pledged full support to the Judiciary in achieving its strategic objectives outlined in the Judiciary Transformation Agenda (2020-2025), including enhancing access to justice, improving court processes, and supporting the judiciary workforce.
Acknowledging recent legislative efforts to improve the welfare of judicial officers and address case backlog challenges, Among noted the significance of increased judicial capacity in tackling workload issues.
Echoing Among’s sentiments, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo emphasized the importance of a collaborative relationship among the three arms of government while safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.
The Annual Judges’ Conference serves as a platform for judges to exchange experiences, address challenges, and strengthen judicial processes through consensus-building and knowledge-sharing.
