Uganda’s Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe.

Women rights activist are set to petition the Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe, over what they say are existing loopholes in plea bargain process and its execution.

Early this year the judiciary introduced plea bargain as a means of reducing case backlog.

However, according to Richard Makumbi, a Program officer at the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDIVOP), many sexual offenders have been awarded weaker sentences through this mutual arrangement which has encouraged re-occurrence of the same.

Prisoners basking in the sun in Luzira.

He explained that as mitigation measures, they are compiling a list of such cases which they will present to the CJ, demanding urgent review of this program in light of gender based violence.

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Chief Justice of Uganda, Bart Katureebe.

While launching the system, Chief Justice (CJ), Bart Katureebe, said if well implemented, the system will make progress in protecting the rights of children.

He said children who are victims of sexual gender based violence shall appear in court using this system to avoid secondary victimization which they suffer when they physically appear in court in full view face-to-face with the alleged molester.

The innovation is one of the promises made by the CJ during this year’s opening of the new law year. Katureebe pledged to support the implementation of a robust information communication (ICT) technology to expedite court processes, deal with case backlog and ease court public access to the courts.

Director of pubic prosecution Mike Chibita congratulated the judiciary upon reaching the dynamic stage but advised them to have backup to avoid justice coming on halt when the link goes off like it did while testing it.

Principle Judge Yolokam  Bamwine urged the implementers to extend the system to the remand homes to ease access to it by the children and avoid showing the faces of the children to avoid intimidation by the accused.

Judiciary technical advisor and coordinator of the project, Andrew Khaukha explained how the 36bn system works without the witness appearing in court but gives him/ her testimony electronically.

With support from UNICEF the judiciary has installed closed cameras that are connected to TV monitors in the court in Kampala, Gulu, and Fort portal.

An official says similar facilities will soon be installed in the High Courts of Mbale Mbarara, Arua and Masindi.

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Hon. Rebecca Kadaga who has been the Speaker of the 9th parliament also contesting for Speakership in the 10th parliament says in her 5 year term, advocacy for maternal health, children’s rights and independence of parliament will be causal.

Furthermore Kadaga has appealed to public should stop thinking that its a parliamentary role to implement law beyond legislating. Rebecca Kadaga and Dokoro Woman Mp Cecilia Ogwal are the only serving MPs in the coming 10th parliament who are still serving in parliament since the establishment of Constitutional Assemble which was the first body to legislate the law of Uganda.

Meanwhile on Thursday this week the 10th parliament will campaign and elect new speaker and deputy and the proceeding will be presided over by Chief justice Bart Magunda Katureebe

Newly elected Opposition MPs have advised the 10th parliament to quickly handle the constitutional amendments.

Day One of Members of the 10th Parliament swear in

Speaking to outgoing opposition chief whip Cecilia Ogwal and Kitgum woman Mp Beatrice Anywa say the failure to have free and fair elections was a weakness of 9th parliament to harshly and lately handle electoral reforms.

They have also vowed to advocate for both human rights and children parental care in their five year term in office.

Hon. Cecilia Ogwal has also called upon government to solve the 30 year incurable poverty in northern Uganda.
The newly elect Kitgum woman Mp Beatrice Anywar has vowed not to support any amendment on presidential age limit in 10th parliament.
It’s on record that MPs in the 7th parliament moved a constitutional amendment under the presidential act eliminating presidential term limits.
Hon. Betty Anywar after swearing in says errors have been done in 9th parliament oppressing the will of Ugandans and she is not willing to legislate laws favoring any one person.

Hon. Betty Anywar vows not to support any constitutional amendment to presidential term limits

Meanwhile she has also called upon NRM to in the coming five years to equally distribute some top government to people from Northern Uganda.

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The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah during Monday’s parliament sitting informed the house.

Fred Ruhindi will be vetted as the new Attorney General replacing Peter Nyombi whom the president dropped in the recent Cabinet Reshuffle after he had served in that capacity for only three years.

Mwesigwa Rukutana will also face the committee for possible approval as the Deputy Attorney General Rukutana has been the Minister of State for Labour.

Tokodri Tagboa appointed to be the Minister of State for Higher Education and Science and Technology will be among those that will have to prove their credentials for confirmation of their appointment by the committee

This committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga last week vetted the first group of Ministers and Presidential Appointees will vet another group of Presidential Appointees this week

Some of the appointees that the committee approved last week are the new Chief Justice Bart Katurebe and his Deputy Steven Kavuma.

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