Construct decent structures for courts, ULS appeals

Ms Ruth Sebatindira says some of the buildings that house courts have been proven unsafe.

KAMPALA

The Uganda Law Society has asked the government to construct decent permanent structures for courts.

According to Ms Ruth Sebatindira, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, while other arms of government boast of magnificent structures, the country’s highest appellate court sits in premises not suitable for its functions and incurs huge rental outlays every month.

“We urge the Committee and Parliament to require government to provide in the budget cycle for appropriate and decent, permanent, purpose-built accommodation for the Courts of Judicature, especially for the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court and the various divisions of the High Court,” said Ms Sebatindira in a statement to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Ms Sebatindira said the Supreme Court sits in premises not suitable for its functions and incurs huge rental expenses. She asked Parliament to ensure that the Judiciary is linked to the national data transmission infrastructures for it to benefit from the process of establishing an E-governance process.

Recently a High Court Judge survived injury and embarrassment when the ceiling in his chambers, located in one of the commercial buildings, caved in on him.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com