IN DIRE STRAITS ? THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY REPORT 2016 A CEPIL REPORT With Support from: IN DIRE STRAITS ? THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY REPORT 2016 Centre for Public Interest Law 5th Floor Social Security House Plot 4 Jinja Road, P.O. B ox 28611 Kampala Email :
[email protected] Tel : +256-79-057-4055 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY III INTRODUCTION III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IV PROJECT BACKGROUND V RESEARCH FINDINGS VI RECOMMENDATIONS VII 1.0 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE JUDICIARY 1 1.1 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL STANDARDS 1 1.2 CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS 4 1.3 PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUDICIARY 5 1.4 STRUCTURE OF THE COURTS 5 2.0 MAJOR CHALLENGES 7 2.1 DECLINE OF RULE OF LAW 10 2.2 CHALLENGES IN THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT PROCESS 13 2.3 FINANCIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS 19 2.4 CORRUPTION IN THE JUDICIARY 23 2.5 INTERNAL WEAKNESSES IN THE JUDICIARY 26 2.6 THE INCAPACITATION OF LOCAL COUNCIL COURTS 33 3.0 PROSPECTS FOR REFORM 37 3.1 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BILL, 2014 37 3.2 THE LEGAL AID BILL, 2011 38 3.3 PREPARATION OF A PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT TOOL 39 3.4 SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURE 40 3.5 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JUSTICE CENTRES 40 3.6 THE JLOS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT PLAN 41 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 42 4.1 APPOINTMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS 42 4.2 THE CASE FOR INCREASED FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT 43 4.3 TACKLING CORRUPTION IN THE JUDICIARY 44 4.4 ENHANCING JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY 45 4.5 ACCELERATING JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE 45 4.6 HARNESSING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE