President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned a new building hosting both the Supreme court and the Court of Appeal which have been in rented premises for over 57 years.

In September 2019, MS Seyani Brothers and Co.(U) Limited and Parbat Siyani Construction Limited won the contract to construct the twin building at Shs 63 billion for the civil works mainly while fire fighting, heating ventilation, air conditioners, and ICT equipment were brought in later, bringing the overall contract price to Shs 115 billion.
 
Museveni said he was very happy that the building was constructed using taxpayer’s money and not a loan from foreign countries and banks. He said this proves that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) can do everything but is just prioritising one item at a time.

Museveni said he appreciated the fact that the Judiciary is a peacemaker and when they adjudicate, they bring peace in place and production hence contributing greatly to the economic development. He promised to invite the chief justice for a discussion on their priorities too as the Judiciary and issues of limited budget constraints.

“I’m very glad that you’re providing a window because you can be forgiven actually with the Banyankole way even for murder…it doesn’t have to be an eye for an eye but you need to fully account and compensate. I think you call it restorative justice. So I really have nothing but praise for this effort. Once we socialise that way a lot of anger in the population will be avoided,” said Museveni.

Chief justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoy described the achievement as a historic milestone, stating that the Court of Appeal and Supreme court since 1967 had no homes. He narrated that they used to operate in the old building of the High court and then later on went to Mengo, then to Kololo, then Wandegeya before getting a home now in the heart of Kampala City.

Owiny-Dollo said that over the years, the Supreme court has been wandering like a rogue and vagabond. He appealed to the president to increase the budget of the Judiciary to make it Shs 800 billion such that they can recruit more judges, especially at the High court and also promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation reconciliation and arbitration.

According to Owiny-Dollo, with these spectacular structures in place, taxpayers will be saved approximately Shs 6 billion that was being spent on rent for the two courts annually.

According to the Judiciary permanent secretary Dr Pius Bigirimana, the new building has better rooms including courtrooms hosting 150 court users, conference halls, parking space, chambers for saunas, breastfeeding rooms for babies, gyms saunas with a good conducive environment for the judges to execute their judicial work properly. 

On his part, deputy chief justice Richard Buteera appreciated the government of Uganda for fully funding the construction projects. He said that he has now been relieved of the Twed Towers building where his office used to be on top of a bar and restaurant which were not a good environment to decide cases.