KAMPALA, Uganda|The Judiciary has launched 11 new sets of Video conferencing systems to enhance justice delivery and streamline court proceedings across the country.

According the Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera the initiative is aimed at leveraging technology to facilitate online service delivery, ,reduce delays and increase efficiency in the administration of justice.

During the launch at the Commercial Division of the High Court, Buteera revealed that the initiative funded by the World Bank, the Comprehensive and Enterprise Development (CEDP) and will be connecting various High court circuits such as the Family Division ,Land Division and the Commercial Division.

He further emphasized the significancy of adopting technology in the judiciary highlighting the benefits of video-conferencing in reducing litigations costs ,improving access to justice and enhancing service delivery having already been successfully used in various courts including the Court of Appeal and enabled the accused persons attend court sessions remotely.

Buteera also indicated that the courts of law have 173,628 cases pending and some which are backlogged however the Deputy chief believes that the use of video conferencing will help reduce this backlog and improve access to justice. As part of the Initiative 12 desktops and 28 computers have been distributed to various High Court circuits to rely proceedings on zoom.

He further encouraged the public to study these rules and implement them, saying that they will help reduce litigation costs and also explained that video conferencing system allows people with interest in cases to follow online and the rules have been put in place to guide its use as a game changer to the whole nation.

Lady Justice Ana Mugenyi from the Commercial Division of the High Court of the High Court who represented the head of the Division Justice Steven Mubiru reported that 534cases have been handled using the Video conferencing since they brought it around COVID-19 lockdown.

Mugenyi noted that gone are the days when witnesses had to travel from abroad to attend court sessions ,However she pointed out challenges such as internet connectivity issues and some litigants preference for traditional court hearings to be hindering progress of the system.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Pamela Lamunu Ochaya emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to transformation and digitization noting that 163 out of 266 operational courts are connected to the internet which has so far helped litigants in filling cases online using a system called Electronic Court Case Management Information System-ECCMIS.

Justice Emmanuel Baguma, the Deputy Head of the Civil Division noted that while the video conferencing system is being used to hear cases there is lack of awareness about its benefits.

Lady Justice Olive Kazarwe from the Land Division reported that they have successfully used video conferencing in two cases including a criminal case where she was assigned by the Principal Judge to handle bail applications remotely from the Luwero High Court and noted that the numbers of people involved in the case were many and that the system helped them attend court for two hours uninterrupted.

Representing the World Bank Marjorie Mpundu expressed appreciation for the accolades and acknowledged the Judiciary’s planning and the World Bank’s financing emphasizing the significance of the 11 transformational video conferencing sets which help reduce costs and improve access to justice.

Mpundu added that the World Bank is committed to supporting the Judiciary’s transformation journey aligning with the Government’s national agenda and advised that the focus should be on success while monitoring challenges suggesting review of the system’s effectiveness after six years.