There is uproar in the judiciary after the newly appointed Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa Siu decided to shuffle a number of registrars and magistrates, moving many of them from their comfort zones.
“The changes have been made in the interest of improving service delivery in the courts,” Chief Registrar Langa said while announcing the new changes.
A statement from the Judiciary dated September 9, 2020, indicates that the Chief Registrar has deployed newly appointed registrars and also assigned other judicial officers roles in different stations.
“Five Registrars; Harriet Ssali, Godfrey Opifeni, Amos Kwizera, Samuel Emokor and Susan Kanyange were on August 14 appointed by President Yoweri Museveni on promotion from the rank of Deputy registrar,” the statement reads in part.
It adds that “The Chief Registrar has now deployed them with immediate effect, to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court Kampala, Registry of Planning and the High Court Commercial Division respectively.
Mr. Tom Chemutai, formerly acting Chief Registrar, has been deployed to the Judicial Training Institute at Nakawa, Kampala.”
The statement also notes that “the other changes that will affect including six deputy registrars, three assistant registrars, and six Chief Magistrates will be effective next week on September 14th.”
According to a letter dated August 14, 2020, addressed to the chairperson Judicial Service Commission justice Benjamin Kabito, President Museveni appointed Langa as the chief registrar while five others were appointed as registrars.
Chief Registrar Langa replaced Esta Nambayo who was in October 2019 elevated to High court as a judge.
Langa joined the Judiciary about 16 years ago, and has risen through the ranks from grade one magistrate to the deputy registrar of High court civil division where she has been until the latest appointment.
Chief Registrar Langa also chairs the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) accountability sub-committee under the human rights and accountability working group.