The decision by the judiciary to suspend court business until March 9th will affect inmates more than anybody else, lawyers have observed.
In Lira district, the high court session which was planned for Tuesday next week hangs in the balance. The fate of 200 suspects who were due to appear in court is not yet clear.
In Kabale, the magistrate's court there has put on hold the 25 Criminal cases that were scheduled to be heard on Wednesday. Equally affected are the 50 civil cases which were to be heard between Monday and Wednesday.
In Mbarara, the high court judge, Justice Paul Mugamba, says more than 100 cases will not be heard as a result of the industrial action. 42 of these are criminal cases.
The cause list at Bushenyi Magistrate court shows that 35 criminal cases were to be heard next week by the chief magistrate and grade one magistrate. While in Kisoro the chief magistrate's court was scheduled to hear 12 criminal cases.
Yusuf Mutembuli, a private lawyer with Mbale Law Chambers and advocates, says the suspension of all judicial activities will ultimately lead to overcrowding in the police cells.
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Mutembuli warns that failure to find a quick solution to the impasse between the judiciary and the executive is a recipe for increased lawlessness.
The Judiciary yesterday announced its suspending all its activities to protest against the continued violation of its independence.
