Challenges Facing The Judiciary In Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. i

DECLARATION .....................................................................

APPROVAL SHEET ............................................................................................................ v

DEDICATION ....................................................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................. vii

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1

1.0 The Background to the Study .................................................................................................................. l

1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4

1.2 Statement of the problem .........................................................................................................

1.3 Objective of the study ............................................................................................................ 5

I .4 Hypothesis guiding the research study .................................................................................................... 5

1.5 The scope of the study ............................................................................................................ 5

1.6 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 5

I. 7 Methodology of Research .............................................................................................................. 6

1.8 Literature Review ............................................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................ 8

LEGAL FRAME WORK ................................................................................................................. 8

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8

2.1 The Constitution of Republic of Uganda 1995 as amended .................................................................... 8

2.2 The Judicature Act Cap 13 ...................................................................................................................... 9

2.3 The Leadership Code Act 2002 ............................................................................................................... 9

2.4 The Local Council Courts Act 2006 ....................................................................................................... 9

2.5 The Criminal Procedure Code Act Cap l l 6 .......................................................................................... 10

2.6 The Inspectorate of Government Act 2002 ........................................................................................... 10

2.7 The Uganda Code of Judicial Conduct (published by Judicial Integrity Committee 2003) ................. 10

2.8 Structures responsible for Judicial Independence ................................................................................. 11

2.8.1 Parliament ........................................................................................................... 11

2.9 The role of the Judicial Service Commission in the administration of Justice and independence of the

Judiciary .............................................................................................................. 12

2.10 The Inspector General Role in the Promotion of Judicial lndependence ............................................ 12

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................ 14

DATA ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................... 14

3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 14

3.1 Independence of the Judiciary under a democratic state: ...................................................................... 14

3.2. The impact of the appointment of Judicial officers on the Independence of the Judiciary .................. 15

3.3. The Impact of the Executive and Legislature on the Exercise of Judicial Powers and Administration

of Justice .............................................................................................................. 16

3.5 The relevance of the Chief Registrar's to Judicial independence ......................................................... 19

3.6 The Efficacy of the Qualification of Judicial officers to promote Judicial independence .................... 19

CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................... 21

4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 21

4.1.0 Findings ............................................................................................................. 21

4.1.1 Corruption ............................................................................................................ 21

4.1.2 Intimidation and threats .......................................................................................................... 21

4.1.3 Insufficient machinery ......................................................................................................... 22

4.1.4 Finances ............................................................................................................. 22

4.1.5 Sensitization .......................................................................................................... 22

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4.1.6 Interference by the Executive ............................................................................................................. 23

4.2.0 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 24

4.3.0 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 24

4.3.1 Appointment. ........................................................................................................... 24

4.3.2 Reduction on the appointing powers of the Executive ....................................................................... 25

4.3.3 Facilitation of the Inspector General of Government's office ........................................................... 25

4.3.4 Sensitization ............................................................................................................. 25

4.3.5 Removal of Judicial Officer from office ............................................................................................ 25

4.3.6 Parliament ............................................................................................................ 25

4.3.7 Remuneration ............................................................................................................ 26

4.3.8 Prerogative powers given to the Executive under A1iicle 121 ........................................................... 26

4.3.9 Precedents ............................................................................................................ 26

4.3.10 Spirit ofrespect between Executive and Legislature ....................................................................... 27

4.3.11 Adherence of professional ethics ..................................................................................................... 27

4.3.12 Legal framework transformation ...................................................................................................... 27

ARTICLES AND PAPERS ........................................................................................... 28

BIBLIOGRAPHY