CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE JUDICIARY

The Judiciary is an independent organ of government entrusted to administer justice through
Courts of Judicature including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
However under the doctrine of separation of powers, The Judiciary is the third arm of
Government, The other two are the Legislature, which makes the law and the Executive, which
enforces the law.

Mission
An independent, competent, trusted and accountable Judiciary that administers Justice to all
Vision
Justice for all.
Mandate
Article 126 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda states the Judiciarys mandate
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 the law and with the
values, norms and aspirations of the people."

The following principles which are outlined in Article 126(2) that should be applied when
adjudicating cases:
1. Justice shall be done to all irrespective of their social or economic status;
2. Justice shall not be delayed;
3. Adequate compensation shall be awarded to victims of wrongs;
4. Reconciliation between parties shall be promoted; and
5. Substantive justice shall be administered without undue regard to technicalities.
The courts shall furthermore be independent and shall not be subject to the control or direction
of any person or authority.

The core functions of the Judiciary are:

Administer justice through resolving disputes between citizens and between the State and
citizens;

Interpret the Constitution and the laws of Uganda; promote the rule of law and to
contribute to the maintenance of order in society;

Protect human rights of individuals and groups;

Initiate, develop and implement training programs for the development of the Judiciary
staff;

Contribute to the enforcement of law and order;

Enroll and license Advocates;

License and discipline Court Brokers;

Keep custody of laws enacted as well as disseminate legal literature;

Receive Government revenue accruing from courts; and

Introduce modalities for out of court dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce the burden
of cases on the courts.

In summary the Judiciary in Uganda is meant to adjudicate cases of both a civil and criminal
nature, interpret the constitution and the laws and promote human rights, social justice and
morality.
1.1 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The Chief Justice is responsible for the administration and supervision of all courts in Uganda,
including those that do not administratively fall within the Judiciary. The Deputy Chief Justice is
the head of the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court. The Principal Judge manages the High
Court, including the decentralized up-country High Court Circuits, and is further responsible for
the Magistrates Courts.
The Chief Registrar, who is at the level of Permanent Secretary, and is assisted by a management
team of Registrars, carries out management of the Judiciary on a day-today basis.

There are parallel centers of authority at the level of Permanent Secretary, with the Chief
Registrar heading the technical branch consisting of judicial activities of the organization, and
the Secretary to Judiciary heading the Finance and Administration branch.
In order to effectively perform these functions the department is divided into several divisions
namely: Administration, Personnel, Finance and Accounts, Estates, Procurement and ICT
division. Each of these divisions is charged with specific responsibilities.
The System Administrator reports to the Registrar or Assistant Registrar for administrative
matters at the work station and to the Principal Information Technology Officer overall who is
the head of the ICT division.

JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE.

CHIEF JUSTICE

DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE

PRINCIPAL JUDGE

CHIEF REGISTRAR
(JUDICIAL)

REGI
STRA
R
T&R

REGIS
TRAR
LANDS

REGISTR
AR
INSPECTO
RATE

SECRETARY TO THE JUDICIARY

(FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION)

REGISTRAR
PLANNING&
DEVELOPME
NT

DEPUTY REGISTRARS
(DIVISIONS AND CIVIL
COURTS)

REGISTR
AR
COURT
OF
APPEAL

REGISTRAR
HIGH COURT

ESTATES
MANAGER

PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT

REGISTRAR
SUPREME
COURT

PRINCIPLE
ASSISTANT
SECRETARY

UNDER SECRETARY

PRINCIPLE
HUMAN
RESOURCE
OFFICER

PRINCIPAL
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER

CHIEF MAGISTRATES

MAGISTRATE GRADE 1S

SENIOR
ACCOUNTANT

SENIOR
ASSISTANT
SECRETARY

SENIOR
HUMAN
RESOURCE
OFFICER

SENIOR
INFORMATION
OFFICER

MAGISTRATE GRADE 11S

ACCOUNTANT

ASSISTANT
SECRETARY

HUMAN
RESOURCE
OFFICER

PROGRAMMER

ICT STRUCTURE

PRINCIPLE
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER
ICT
INTERN
STUDENTS

DRIVER

SENIOR INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

OFFICE
ASSISTANT

SAD/ICT
TRAINER

SAD/SD

SAD/SC

SAD/ITSEC
&DR

SAD/A&D

PROGRAMM
ER

SAD/N&
TS

CO/T
AS
SADU
SI

DEC
/SD

CO/SC

SADS/
UPCOUNTRY

UPCOUNTRY
GULU
JINJA
MASAKA
LIRA
ARUA
COURT OF APPEAL
FAMILY DIVISION
ANTI CORRUPTION
WARCRIMES
SAD/CC

WEBSIT
E
INTERN
ET
OFFICE
R

WEBS
ITE
ADMI
N

CO/CC

PROCES
SERVER

DEC

STATICIAN

1.2 IT INFRASTRUCTURE
The ICT department headed by the Principal Information Technology Officer is responsible for
the smooth communication of the entire Judiciary. It comprises the ICT Infrastructure and
Systems and Services.
1.2.1 ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
Networks.
A system of interconnecting computers within the Judiciary. The Judiciary has a Wide Area
Network Interconnecting the following Local Area Networks; Supreme Court, Court Of Appeal,
High Court, Buganda Road Court, Registry at DANIDA, Judicial Studies Institute and other
upcountry High Court Circuits with the exclusion of Kabale and Masindi High Court Circuits.
Desktop Computers: Over 500 computers all over the country
File Servers: Central computers that store shared information over a network.
These are allocated to different stations with mini-data centers.
Court Recording Technology: A system that allows for the recording and subsequent
transcription of court proceedings to make Judges and other judicial officers more
effective. This is mainly operational in the Commercial Court and is subsequently
being rolled out to the other High Court Circuits countrywide.
1.2.2 COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Court Case Administration System (CCAS): The system is used for the data capture,
updating and reporting on all court cases handled in all the courts. This system
captures details of cases.
Summary Statistics System (SSS): This system is used to capture only summary
statistics (that are used to generate quick summary statistics which can in-turn be
cross-checked with the summary reports from the CCAS)
Management Information System (MIS): This is the Judiciary Management
Information System that stores and reports on information that is used by the
Judiciary management for decision making.
Court Recording System (CRS): This is a system that assists Judges and Magistrates
presiding over cases to maintain an in-depth electronic detail of court proceedings
that can subsequently be transcribed into hard copies.
Fixed Assets Management System (FAMS): A system aimed at recording and
keeping track of all Judiciary assets
Computer Inventory System (CIS): This is a Computer based system used to keep
track of all the Judiciary Computers and their peripherals.
Electronic Funds Transfer System (EFT): The System facilitates the transfer of
Judiciary Customers payments to their accounts.
Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMS): A computerized
budgeting, accounting and reporting system which aims at enabling the Government
of Uganda (and subsequently the Ministries, Departments and Agencies) to plan and
use its financial resources more efficiently and effectively.

1.2.3 ICT SERVICES

Service Desk Services: This is responsible for providing first line ICT support for all
Judiciary ICT Users and its main objective is to improve customer satisfaction
through a single point of contact for all ICT users, thus providing clear
communication lines to the Data Centre and back to the users.
Internet Service: This Service links the Judiciary Computer users to the rest of the
World for research, data exchanges, news and opinions.
Email Services: Official mailing system of the Judiciary format is
username@judicature.go.ug
Intranet Services: This is a portal for the Judiciary staff to internally share
information such as: Judiciary announcements/notices
Judiciary Calendar
Judgments Section
A staff directory/ Contacts
A repository of shared documents and forms.
Links to important websites, Legal Resources
Online Tutorials
Meeting Workspaces
http://intranet/sites/highcourt/default.aspx is the web address for the judiciary intranet
Judiciary Website: The Judiciary maintains a website whose main purpose is for the
dissemination of information about the Judiciary to the Public. The website address
is http://www.judicature.go.ug.