By Mulengera Reporters
Come 15th December, hundreds of Ugandans and other stakeholders like lawyers are expected to converge at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds to participate in the 2nd annual National Court Open Day.
The second of its kind, the event will be held under the theme: “Enhancing Judicial Accountability & Access to Justice.” During the Tuesday court session, Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu the Chief Magistrate, who heads the Makindye-based Utilities & Standards Court, took off time to publicize the upcoming event to a tightly-packed court room.
While trying to agree with defence lawyers and UCC state prosecutors who are prosecuting telecom equipment vandalism-related offences (involving a Kisekka mechanic called Quarish Yasiin Lubowa Segirinya, and telecom engineers Hamdan Mukwaya and Charles Kasirye) on the most appropriate dates to adjourn the subsequent hearing sessions to, Kamasanyu made reference to the 15th December National Court Open day.
She made it clear to both prosecution and defence lawyers that, that date of 15th December wasn’t available because herself and the other staff and the judicial officers she leads won’t be available at station. “We have to be at Kololo where we actually shall be exhibiting during the Court open day,” she explained.
She went ahead to encourage litigants, Court users and lawyers present to prioritize attending the same at Kololo. She reminded lawyers and other Court users that there will be a platform for them to candidly give feedback on the quality of services they have been receiving at the different Courts.
“You will have the opportunity to publicly complain about us on the microphone before our bosses in case you don’t find our services satisfactory. There will be a microphone for you as Counsel or Court user to say anything you want. You can also make proposals on the changes you want to see so that your Judiciary gets to serve you better.”
Kamasanyu encouraged those coming to Kololo to feel free to say whatever they want because that is the purpose the National Court open day was designated to serve.
In her Court, Kamasanyu has always encouraged Court users, lawyers and litigants to assert themselves and fearlessly demand the services to which they are entitled under the laws of Uganda.
“These days we judicial officers are well paid and its your right to be promptly served whenever you come to this or any other Court,” Kamasanyu has always reminded people coming to seek justice or who are brought to face justice in her Court, which specializes on telecom and water supply equipment-related vandalism offences.
She also hears all cases relating to environment and wildlife violations-related offences.
Even when she has always tried her best, including coming early for work and sometimes listening to arguments up to as late as 9pm, Kamasanyu says that whoever feels dissatisfied with the quality of services rendered at the Makindye-based Court should feel free to turn up at Kololo and make their case infront of her bosses, who will be in attendance to interact and take in all manner of feedback from the public, lawyers and other Court users. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
