Judicial officers have been urged to adopt a human rights-based approach to the administration of justice and to ensure that fairness, equality, and respect for court users remain central to their work.
Speaking at the closure of a two-day training for selected judicial officers on applying a human rights approach in judicial work in Kampala, Supreme Court judge Mike Chibita said the concept extends beyond legal decisions to the conduct and attitude of judicial officers while serving the public.
Justice Chibita, who serves as the chairperson of the Governing Council of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), said judicial officers must demonstrate courtesy, integrity, and professionalism in their daily interactions with court users.
‘We have been reminded that a human rights approach is reflected not only in the decisions we make but also in how we conduct ourselves as judicial officers. It demonstrates through courtesy to court users, integrity in the discharge of our duties, timely delivery of judgments and rulings, and our willingness to simplify court processes and explain proceedings in the language that litigants can understand,’ Justice Chibita said on Thursday.
He noted that judicial power is exercised on behalf of the people and should therefore inspire public confidence in the Judiciary.
‘The administration of justice is not merely a legal function; it is a public trust. Judicial power is exercised on behalf of the people, and therefore every interaction we have with court users should reinforce public confidence in the Judiciary,’ he added.
Justice Chibita further cautioned judicial officers against any form of discrimination, stressing that courts must remain accessible and fair to all persons regardless of their background.
‘We must remain vigilant in ensuring that our courts are places where every person receives equal treatment and where no one is disadvantaged because of their gender, age, disability, social status, ethnicity, or any other characteristic,’ he said.
He also emphasized the need to empower litigants by ensuring they understand court processes and can meaningfully participate in proceedings affecting their rights.
‘Court users should not be passive observers in proceedings that affect their rights. We must ensure that litigants understand the processes before them and are enabled to participate in the pursuit of justice meaningfully. Our decisions must consistently reflect fairness, openness, and adherence to human rights standards,’ Justice Chibita said.
In a related development, Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo highlighted the growing significance of forensic science in the adjudication of criminal cases, noting that advances in criminal activity require corresponding improvements in judicial approaches.
‘As crime becomes increasingly sophisticated, so too must our approaches to adjudicating criminal matters,’ Justice Abodo said.
She cited statistics presented during the training, indicating that more than 70 percent of court cases whose outcomes depend on forensic evidence are successfully resolved.
‘The statistics shared yesterday by the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute were particularly insightful. Learning that over 70 percent of cases taken to court whose outcome depends on forensic evidence are successfully resolved is a powerful testament to the reliability and significance of forensic science in the pursuit of justice,’ she said.
The training, organized by the Judicial Training Institute, sought to equip judicial officers with knowledge and skills to integrate human rights principles into judicial processes while enhancing access to justice and public confidence in the courts.