Abdu Katuntu : Parliament Members Caution Against Government’s Proposal to Expand Judiciary

A group of Members of Parliament has raised concerns over the government’s intention to increase the number of justices in the Supreme Court by 21 and the Court of Appeal by 55, as outlined in the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2023, presented by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao.

The MPs, led by Abdu Katuntu of Bugweri County, argued against the proposed expansion, emphasizing that the move would result in an annual expenditure of Shs37 billion in salaries and other emoluments—an unsustainable financial burden for Uganda. Katuntu questioned the uniqueness of Uganda’s situation, pointing out that comparable nations with higher GDPs and populations had fewer justices at their Supreme Courts.

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“What is this uniqueness you are telling me? I have been waiting for it, that Uganda is such a unique country it needs a bloated Supreme Court. What is this uniqueness that is different from Kenya, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa?” queried Katuntu.

He expressed concern about allocating substantial resources to an expanded judiciary while pressing issues like maternal mortality persisted. Pamela Tibihikirra, Chairperson of the Uganda Law Reform Commission, supported the need for increased justices but urged Parliament to ensure justification based on the country’s population size and alternative solutions for case backlog.

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Tibihikirra emphasized the financial implications, considering the recent salary enhancements for judicial officers and the associated costs on the consolidated fund. Sarah Langa, Chief Registrar, defended the proposal, stating that the last increase in justices occurred in 2011. She highlighted the regionalization of the Court of Appeal and the deployment of justices to various regions, aiming to improve case handling and eliminate backlog.

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Katuntu affirmed support for the regionalization of the Court of Appeal while expressing the need for a thorough examination of the proposed numbers. The debate continues as Parliament considers the implications of the judiciary’s expansion on both the national budget and the efficiency of the justice system.