KAMPALA– President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has informed the Justices and Judges of Courts of Judicature, that Uganda’s development and transformation, have not been a walk over as many could think, but a result of combined efforts of various stakeholders.
In his message delivered by Speaker of Parliament , Rt Hon Annet Anita Among, at the official opening of the 26th judges Conference on Tuesday, at Mestil Hotel in Kampala , Museveni revealed that the key guiding factors for Uganda’s transformation have been the three historical missions and four ideological principles.
“The three historical missions were: how to create prosperity for the African People including the Ugandan People who had gone through 500 years of slave trade, Colonialism and the misrule by our own indigenous kings; how to guarantee strategic security for the African People; and how to use the Undugu of the African Peoples to achieve the two above.”
Museveni also pointed out that that in the early days of his government, they faced a challenge of concomitant mentality, especially among the Colonial and Neo-colonial elite who resisted these new ideas , but after several engagements many political actors and lawyers embraced the move.
“We shall continue to engage all partners using all legitimate methods so as to broaden the Consensus around the 3 historical missions and four ideological principles. We have not had time to discuss the other two historical missions. That will be for another day. Congratulations on your conference.”
The Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo thanked the President for his continuos support to the Judiciary which clearly signifies that the head of state recognizes the Judiciary’s contribution to the country’s development.
“It is a tradition by which, each year, judges of the courts of Judicature of Uganda converge and carry out stocktaking, collective soul searching, and reflect on our experience in the immediate previous year. This is intended to
Enable execute our constitutional mandate of administering justice, in the pursuit of peace, stability, socio-economic and general welfare of the people of this country, by ensuring that the country is governed on the basis of the rule of law and democratic dispensation.”
Dollo reminded Judicial officers that as they return to their respective duty stations , they should exercise their power with in an accountable manner to the people of Uganda.
“Article 126(1) of the Constitution of Uganda 1995, succinctly provides that: “Judicial power is derived from the people and shall be exercised by the courts established under this Constitution in the name of the people and in conformity with law and with the values, norms and aspirations of the people.” In this context, Judicial accountability is expressed to mean “the acceptance of responsibility for one’s own actions, including a willingness to be transparent and allowing others to observe and evaluate one’s performance.”
He further promised that with the support and resources they have ,is now incumbent on to them to them to effect dispute resolution to progressively continue the drive until when their services reach all Ugandans.
The Participants in this conference include: Supreme Court Justices , Court of Appeal justices, High court judges and Registrars.
The 26th Annual Judges conference held at Mestil Hotel under a theme “Positioning Uganda’s Judiciary to contribute to Social Economic Development” commenced off on Monday 3rd February 2025 and will close on Thursday 6th February 2025.
