Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has suggested to the new judicial service commissioners that most complaints lodged against judicial officials have a tinge of blackmail.
In a speech at the inauguration of the new commissioners at the High court in Kampala on Monday, Katureebe said the commission should carefully scrutinize every complainant.
The commission is composed of nine members with powers to facilitate and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of justice administration. Any complaint, he said, must be investigated and the rules of natural justice must prevail.
Katureebe presided at the swearing-in of Justice Benjamin Kabiito, the new chairman of the commission, who replaces Justice James Ogoola. Kabiito is deputised by Supreme court judge Faith Mwondha.
Other members include; former Uganda Law Society president Ruth Ssebatindira, Norah Matovu Winyi, Dr Laban Nnini Kirya, former Sheema Woman MP Rosemary Nyakikongoro and former Teso affairs minister Christine Amongin Aporu.
The commissioners will serve a four-year term and will have to hear more than 300 pending cases of indiscipline against judicial officers. Justice Kabiito says most of the cases have not been heard for years. He said the delay in handling complaints expeditiously erodes public confidence in the judiciary.
Justice Kabiito said some of the issues the new team plans to tackle include digitizing the case management system, push for better remuneration of judicial officers and getting a permanent home for the commission.
Henry Kyemba, one of the outgoing commissioners, urged the new team to tackle the challenge of case backlog within the judiciary.