CJ Owiny-Dollo hails Langa's legacy as Lamunu becomes acting chief registrar

Pamela Lamunu has been appointed the Acting Chief Registrar of Uganda’s courts, succeeding Sarah Langa Siu, who was recently elevated to the High Court Bench as an Acting Judge.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo made the appointment, acknowledging that Lamunu’s role will be a temporary one until a substantive Chief Registrar is appointed by President Museveni.

Langa, in her handover remarks at a colorful event on Friday evening at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala, reflected on her four-and-a-half years in office, highlighting several accomplishments.

“When I joined the Judiciary in 2020, we disposed of over one million cases. What stood out was the Administration of the Judiciary Act, which required implementation, leaving much for the Chief Registrar to oversee,” Langa said.

“I leave behind a better and more motivated team. About 130 judicial officers had never received a promotion, but I’m proud to say that nearly all have been promoted, some even twice,” she added.

Langa, chief registrar since 2020, also emphasized her efforts to improve the Judiciary's visibility by partnering with the media and introducing open court days, initiatives that allowed the public to interact directly with judicial officers.

Additionally, her office oversaw the reorganization of court files and archives, minimizing the issue of missing documents.

One notable success came when two lost files, missing for over ten years, were recovered. Langa credited the reorganization with significantly improving the efficiency of court record-keeping.

Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo praised Langa's administrative skills, recalling how he once stopped her from applying to become a judge, arguing it wasn’t the right time.

“But this time, I asked her to apply, and I even said I would be one of her referees. Now, she’s a judge,” he said.

As for Lamunu, Owiny-Dollo urged her to rise to the challenges ahead. “If you fail, there will be an uproar,” he warned.

Lamunu, a seasoned Judiciary member since 2009, has held various roles, including Deputy Registrar at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.

She holds a Master of Law from Georgetown University and an MBA from the Uganda Management Institute. Lamunu is also a recipient of the Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa Fellowship.

The Chief Registrar oversees the day-to-day operations of all courts in Uganda, managing registries, staff, and ensuring the implementation of policies set by senior judges.

Langa was appointed as one of the 21 new Acting High Court Judges in a pivotal moment as Uganda’s Judiciary seeks to solve case backlog.