The Chief Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe has cautioned the Commission of inquiry into land matters led by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire to learn the use professional communication channels when dealing with matters of National importance, and not just rant in the press.
The CJ’s concerns are drawn from a press release by land commission issued on Friday October 26th 2018, where Justice Bamugemereire indicated that some Judicial officers are playing a vital role in catalyzing rising land distress, grabbing of protected and fragile areas causing landlessness and state of lawlessness.
In the statement, the lady Justice points out cases lost by NFA against individuals. One was before Justice Godfrey Namundi who ruled in favor of three individuals to take over 1 square mile of part of Kajjansi Forest Reserve simply because they had land tittles. They were equally granted UGX 200,000,000 in damages.
Justice Bamugemereire accuses the judge of ignoring evidence presented in court which was in favor of NFA. She also pointed at the four court orders granted over Namanve Forest Reserve where titles were issued on an existent forest reserve.
The lady Justice mentions many other forests that have been encroached on by people who use officials of the Judiciary.
Now, the Chief Justice has commended her for pointing out such discrepancies but says she could have used better communication channels. “The Judiciary, on one hand takes the issues raised in that press release seriously and would appreciate if they are properly investigated to establish the facts and make appropriate recommendations for a lasting solution.
The Judiciary however, is concerned with the mode used by the commission to communicate matters of such serious nature” Justice Katureebe writes.
In a press release dated today 29th October 2018, the CJ says if the commission had written to the Judiciary and government first, they would have investigated the matter and given chance to the individuals mentioned in the cases, a chance to defend their actions.
“We would have expected the commission to communicate findings of such a serious nature in form of an interim report to the president, not a press release” he added.
Justice Katureebe however promises to study the press release further and take appropriate action. He also says if any judicial officer is found to have acted outside the law, they will be dealt with accordingly.
Also, Principle judge Dr. Yorokamu Bamwiine showed concern over the matter, arguing that the commission should not have used actions of a few judicial officers to brand the entire Judiciary culprit.
