A wave of excitement has rocked Kalangala district following the opening of the first ever Magistrates Court in the area.
The new court officially started operating on Thursday last week.
The court is located in Kalangala town council near the central police station. It was constructed with funds from Justice Law and Order Sector- JLOS.
Sitting on about two acres of land, the new magistrate’s court has four courtrooms, six offices and a court cell. It is also complete with two residences for a Magistrate and State Attorney to address the lack of accommodation.
Elias Kisawuzi, the Judiciary spokesperson says JLOS financed the construction to the tune of 983million shillings to ease judicial service delivery in Kalangala. Kisawuzi says currently, Kenneth Gimungu, the grade One Magistrate has been temporarily posted in the area to manage the magistrate court as the judicially awaits recruitments of four more magistrates to work there.
Kisawuzi says the judiciary will also make it a Chief Magistrates’ court after recruitment to ensure that minor cases like theft, small robbery, assault and other small cases are handled from Kalangala instead of transporting suspects to Masaka.
Kenneth Gimungu says there is still need to equip the court with furniture. He says currently, many offices sill lack furniture because the Judiciary has not yet procured them.
However, the opening of the court has excited residents of Kalangala.
Deo Nsubuga, one of the residents says he is excited about the construction of the new court adding that it will end years of wrangling between Kalangala district council and court officials over space. He claims that court had always used the tiny Kalangala district council hall to conduct business.
Nsubuga explains that some times, Magistrate Gimungu has always failed to convene court sessions especially during some days when Kalangala district council is also sitting, which has led to case backlog.
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Bernard Enaggu, another Kalangala resident is equally excited about the court. Enaggu, who has a case whose particulars he declines to reveal, says the new court will fasten delivery of justice in the district.
Enaggu explains that they have been finding problems fitting in the crowded council hall. He claims that some of their cases have always been adjourned unnecessarily due to lack of space causing a delay in justice delivery.
Enaggu has, however, asked the judicial officials to desist from corruption tendencies if their new court is to be respected.
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Kalangala District Police Commander Godfrey Matte says police is also excited about the court. He says police has been finding it hard to transport suspects to Masaka because of lack of funds.
