The Judiciary has scaled down operations to 10 % physical presence in order to reduce on congestion at courts. All hearings and major activities of court remain suspended till after 42 days.
The measures were released by the Hon. Chief Justice came up with measures released on the 21st June 2021 in order to fit in the National measures, in order to protect staff and court users from the virus.
This follows the Revised directives by the H.E The President on measures to combat the spread of COVID 19 and following the effect the Pandemic has had on the Institution given that the Judiciary has already lost a magistrate and other staff to the pandemic.
In the new measures, Courts will remain open to handle only urgent matters like plea-taking, bail applications and other urgent applications.
The Chief Justice urged judicial officers to use this time to write judgments and ruling and deliver them virtually through emails and video link where available.
Executions are suspended including where orders were already issued and given the fact that the public transport was suspended, only the staff with official vehicles have been reporting to work.
“The staff that fit the 10% who do not have official vehicles have been asked to submit the registration numbers of their vehicles and National Identity Numbers (N!N) so as to avail them with movement permits. At any given time only 10% of the staff at each work station will be required to be physically present. The rest are urged to work from home” the Chief Justice advised.
Also, the courts outside Metropolitan areas (i.e. Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso Districts) are urged to coordinate with the District Task Forces on how to operate while observing the 10% presence of staff.
All courts have been directed to avail official emails which shall be shared with other stakeholders through which filings and delivery of judgments and rulings during this time will be done.
All court users who had cases that had hearing dates including the accused on bail are advised to stay home until that time when we shall advise them on when to resume physical appearances.
