Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera Emphasizes the Role and Importance of Planning, Development, and Finance Committee.
KAMPALA-UGANDA: The Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, has chaired the inaugural meeting of the Planning, Development, and Finance Committee at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall.
The meeting held on Friday last week, focused on outlining the roles of the Committee and forming a sub-committee on Infrastructure Management.
The DCJ highlighted that the Committee was established under the Administration of the Judiciary Act 2020 to ensure effective administration of the Judiciary, as outlined in Section 6(1) and (2). The Committee’s functions are detailed in the Administration of the Judiciary (Establishment of Committees) Regulations, 2023.
Justice Richard Buteera noted that the Committee is tasked with reviewing and considering new policies, strategies, plans, programs, and projects, including research.
“It will guide the financing of approved policies, strategies, plans, programs, and projects while considering national priorities to ensure priority objectives are achieved. The Committee will also review progress in implementing the Judiciary’s strategic plan against agreed performance targets quarterly,” Said Justice Buteera.
Justice Buteera further emphasized the importance of the Planning, Development, and Finance Committee in overseeing the Judiciary’s financial and other resources and monitoring its performance in achieving strategic objectives and priorities.
The DCJ also stressed the need for the Committee to define its role clearly from the start and use resources effectively through timely and good planning. He underscored the importance of having a comprehensive work plan for short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.
The Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, informed the meeting that the Government has got a National Development Framework, which is guided by the National Development Plan (NDP).
Dr. Pius added that it’s the same National Development plan that sets the principles and objectives of National Development, and that there are programme working groups that derive their mandate from the NDP that emphasized the need to develop work plans with strategic plans that are consistent.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the previous Infrastructure Committee would be adopted as the Sub-committee on Infrastructure Management.
It is composed of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary (Chairperson), Chief Registrar, Registrar Inspectorate, Registrar Planning, Research and Development, Under Secretary, Head Procurement, Head ICT, Head Policy and Planning, and Head Engineering and Technical Services (Secretary).
In attendance was Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija (Principal Judge), Lady Justice Damalie Lwanga (Executive Director Judicial Training Institute), Registrars; HW Rosemary Bareebe (High Court), HW Kisakye Mary Kaitesi (Magistrates Affairs & Data Management), HW Edoku John Paul (Planning, Research & Development) and HW Gakyaro Allan Mpiirwe (Personal Assistant to the DCJ).
Also present were Ms. Maureen Kasande (Under Secretary), Ms. Apophia N. Tumwine (Commissioner Human Resource), Eng. Priscilla Nakiboneka (Acting Commissioner Engineering and Technical Services), Mr. Opolot Simon Peter (Acting Commissioner Planning and Development), and Mr. Deo Kasozi (Head of Procurement), among others.
