By Mulengera Reporters
On Thursday, Masaka-based lawyer Alex Lule spoke at the Uganda Law Society weekly media event in Kololo and explained the reasons why ULS members in Kabaka’s City are on strike to among other things protest absence of adequate number of judicial officers to adjudicate cases coming from the different districts making up the greater Masaka sub region.
The districts of Masaka, Lyantonde, Kalangala, Kyotera, Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, Rakai, Kalungu, Lwengo, Masaka City itself and all the others are all being served by one judge who is even in acting capacity.
Lule explained that in place currently is a backlog of 4,600 cases including those which have taken up to 10 years or more in the system. These include civil cases, family causes, company causes, land cases etc.
The ULS leadership declared support for the Masaka advocates’ collective decision to declare the strike in order to bring national attention to the problem. Lule called the problem they are facing in Masaka connivance of the judiciary leadership in Kampala to deny the people of Masaka access to justice, which is a right created under the Constitution. The strike has been condemned by Deputy Chief Justice Flavian Zeija as unnecessary.
But who are some of the lawyers leading this movement of fearless advocates who have taken the risk to stand up and call out Judicial indifference and impunity for exactly what it is? These lawyers have been crusading that more judicial officers be deployed in Masaka including corresponding with the top Judiciary leadership.
They spent much of 2024 engaging with the then Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija who is now the DCJ. On 20th November last year, they wrote to Zeija highlighting their grievances and clearly indicated what needed to be done for things to get better.
In their three-page dossier, they raised a total of seven points but still their advocacy didn’t yield much.
And the list of these public-spirit lawyers who are prepared to pay the price for the people of Masaka’s Justice needs to become prioritized include the following:
Davis Kiconco & Zam Nantongo of Melchi Advocates, Waduko Marufu, Mutale Salimat of F Gumisiriza & Co Advocates, Kaliba Innocent of Kaliba Associated Advocates, Dorah Kimani of Justice Centers Uganda, Joan Ainebyona of Nansubuga Aweco & Co Advocates, Alexander Lule of Xander Advocates, Lawrence Yawe of Nyanzi & Nyanzi Advocates, Brendah Ainomugisha of Kaliba Associates, Mayanja Thomas Acquinas of Soliz Advocates, JB Kawanga of Kawanga & Kasule Advocates, Sharif Ssozi of LUX Advocates, Ronald Muhwezi of Bashasha & Co Advocates, Joseph Wasswa of Jawass Associated Advocates, Patricia Abaho of Ssekyewa Matovu Advocates, Prossy Wekesa of Xander Advocates, Isabella Nakimera of Ssekyewa Matovu & Co Advocates.
Others are Micheal Tebukozza of Muhumuza Kizza Advocates, Zikusooka Herbert, Audrey Asiimwe of Kyamukama & Co Advocates, Sam Ssekyewa of Ssekyewa Matovu Advocates, Eddy Ssansa of JN Kateregga Advocates, Solomon Mugendawala of JN Kateregga Advocates, Tonny Ssebdagire of Kawanga & Kasule Advocates, Kenneth Nuwasasira of Kaliba Associated Advocates, Sandra Lugobe of Takwana Matovu Mbabazi Advocates and Yusuf Mugambwa of JOJOMA Advocates.
In their dossier, the lawyers appreciated Zeija for appreciating their backlog-related concerns in 2020 by deploying two resident judges to the Masaka High Court circuit. One of these was Justice Victoria N.N Katamba who subsequently went for study leave.
They demanded for more judges saying the work load was simply too much. They copied the same to the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo, then Deputy CJ Richard Buteera and the Uganda Law Society.
Responding to the ongoing strike, Samuel Mugisa, who serves as the Registrar for Judicial Service Commission, on Thursday contributed to the discussion at ULS offices in Kololo and suggested that the ongoing Masaka chaos should teach lawyers about the need to prioritize mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, which he said can lead to resolution of many of the cases and thereby diminishing on the backlog of 4,600 cases which Alex Lule said currently remain unresolved under the Masaka High Court Circuit.
The JSC big man also advised lawyers to have trust and confidence and begin to directly communicate their grievances to JSC for resolution as opposed to ranting on social media and through TV appearances and other conventional media platforms. He expressed fear that the strike action by Masaka-based lawyers could incite lawyers in other Ugandan Cities to follow suit since the problems being faced in Masaka are replicated in other parts of Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
