Thursday March 15, 2023
By Timothy Eodu-Moroto
The media fraternity in Karamoja have been tasked to shine a torch on the works of the judiciary in the region.
This was during a media engagement with journalists at the Judicial Service Commission-JSC offices in Moroto on Wednesday 15 March 2023.
Mr. Harman Tuhairwe the Senior Legal Officer JSC Moroto said the media plays a very big role in enlightening the community on several matters involving the courts of law.
“When you as the media fear courts, that’s when the community will also fear because no one is telling them what happens in courts and how it does,” he said.
Mr. Harman also said violence arises in the community when several avenues of resolving their grieviences fails including civil courts. He said if the media in the region ramped up the community engagement and sensitization about what happens in courts, this will create a good working relationship between courts and the community.
Mr. Jonan Luleti another Senior Legal Officer said since media plays much role, their presence in courts will create impartiality since the they (courts) will do their work well knowing that they are being watched.
He called upon the journalists to be professional enough while reporting on court issues to avoid misleading information and also being denied access to information.
“Don’t approach court in a lousy way that creates fear, the magistrate can order for your exit so be professional and report what is right, using appropriate language,” he urged.
Meanwhile Maria Theresa Nabulya, the JSC communications officer called for more media support in sensitizing the communities in the region on matters regarding courts and how they work.
She said most people could be locked up in jail due to ignorance of the law such as court bail for those with minor cases or whose cases have taken longer periods to be heard due to little or no evidence.
“If you are to talk about these issues since for instance on radio one can have an audience of over a thousand people listening, this can transform how society seek legal redress,” Nabulya told the journalists.
About Judicial Service Commission-JSC
Judicial Service Commission-JSC is an independent agency of the state established under Article 146 of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda. It’s a specialized appointing commission, enjoying broad oversight functions in relation to services delivered to the people by the Judiciary.