Museveni Warns Judges on Frustrating Investors

President Yoweri Museveni has asked all judicial officers in the country to handle economic matters with extra care, saying if not properly handled, they might scare away investors who contribute a lot in country’s development.

At the official opening of the 22^nd Annual Judges Conference, Museveni gave an example of a judge who recently stopped Chinese investors from setting up the first Iron ore industry and a fertilizer company in Sukuru just because of misunderstandings between two parties.

He pointed out that such a matter could have been solved without halting the construction of such a mega project where investors had already compensated the resident over 40 million United States Dollars.

“I am sorry if I have done any sub-judice but I am happy I will die having spoken out,” Museveni.

Museveni asked the judicial officers to prioritize Commercial disputes with other serious cases like murder, before bringing on others.

He also promised, working with other stakeholders, to improve on judges’ welfare to suit the regional standards

“We don’t want a retired judge to hang around chambers of private lawyers for part time jobs because it is so demeaning.”

On his part, Chief Justice Hon Bart Katureebe reported to the president a number of innovations they have introduced to improve performance in the judiciary and asked for more support.

He applauded the president for appointing new judges at Supreme, Court of appeal and High Court level

Hon Ephraim Kamuntu the new Minster for Justice and constitutional affairs promised the Judiciary that all is being done to facilitate the passing of the Judicial Amendment bill which has stayed in Parliament for long.

This four day conference kicked off on Monday and is expected to run up to Thursday this week under a theme “Discharging The Mandate of the Judiciary: Towards a Modern, Professional and Effective Judiciary”.

It attracted Judges from Supreme court, Court of Appeal, High court and Registrars from courts all over the country.