Judicial officers suspend strike for three months
Mr Godfrey Kaweesa, the president of Uganda Judicial Officers Association, walks to his seat after delivering his speech at the association's extra-ordinary general assembly at the High Court in Kampala. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
KAMPALA- Judicial officers on Wednesday resolved to suspend their strike for the next three months to allow government fulfil its promise towards their welfare demands.
They emphasised that the strike has just been suspended not called off.
They argued that should government fail to honour its promises by December 11, the strike would resume.
“We have resolved that with effect from tomorrow [Thursday], officers return to work. The industrial action is hereby deferred until December 11, to give government a chance to implement what it has promised, "Mr Godfrey Kaweesa, the president of Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA) said during the extra-ordinary general assembly.
“Government has promised to give each magistrate a Double Cabin pickup truck and to provide security to all judicial officers. It has pledged to provide office equipment and it has as well pledged to increase our salary by November this year. So, in December, we shall come back and take stock of what government has promised.”
He said: “The other thing government is going to work on is the Judiciary Administration Bill. After 15-years, the Ministry of Finance has finally issued a Certificate of Financial Implication meaning that government will secure the funds to ensure the money is available.”
Mr Kaweesa said that the Minister of Justice Gen Kahinda Otafiire promised to table the bill before Cabinet on Friday and then present it in Parliament next week.
He said once this bill is enacted, the Judiciary shall attain financial and human resource autonomy.
He added that this means that there shall be a Judiciary Fund out of which operational expenses shall be appropriated just like Parliament and the Executive.
The suspension of the strike that had entered the second week, paves way for courts across the country to resume operations.
Justice Katureebe speaks to Judicial officers on Thursday at the High Court in Kampala. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
Gen Otafiire said as a steward of the department of Justice, he is not going to struggle for just a pay but a fair share of the national cake.
“Let us pass the Administration of Justice Bill and we give you your money in consonant with other arms of government. This bill was a struggle but I am happy we are about to arrive. Those responsible for the Treasury have given us a Certificate of Financial Implication and I am struggling to have the bill tabled by Friday,” Mr Otafiire said.
He added that: “We have been able to come up with a number of agreements when met the Executive, Judiciary. The President agreed on a number of short-term, medium and long term measures for the judiciary.”
Chief Justice Bart Katureebe applauded judicial officers for their boldness to take an unprecedented action of laying down their tools in a struggle for the enhancement of working conditions, personal benefits and emoluments of judicial officers.
