President Yoweri Museveni yesterday appointed twelve new judges to serve on the Bench in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
The world over Judges are men and women of high repute, who are supposed to administer justice without fear or favour. They are also supposed to uphold the rights and dignity of all people, by providing high quality judicial services laced with patience, courtesy, good time-keeping and humility, among other tributes.
Fortunately, all the men and women named to the two courts of advanced jurisdiction are accomplished both academically and professionally, competent enough to take on their new assignments.
However, over the years the judiciary has suffered from inadequate manpower, leading to a series of judicial irregularities and also causing a backlog.
Indeed, the delays in occasioning justice have provided the general public with tools to denigrate the justice system, something that has affected the image of the judiciary.
Similarly, allegations of corruption, mostly in the lower courts are rife, and this needs to be tackled immediately, through close supervision by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the constitutional body that employs all judicial officers.
That said, the new judges come at a time when the country is bracing for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, where tact and expeditious delivery of justice are imperatives in decision-making regarding the electoral petitions which will be lodged by candidates aspiring for different political positions.
Indeed, the elections which are just a few months away could be their ‘litmus test’ as the new Judges acquaint themselves with the responsibilities of their new offices.
So, inevitably there will be ‘great expectations’ awaiting the new Judges.
