By KT Reporter
Sarah Langa Siu has handed over office to her successor, Pamela Lamunu Ochaya.
Langa, who has been the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary for four and half years, on Friday handed over office at the Supreme Court Conference Hall where she also used the opportunity to officially launch her book titled “Qualified by God” Which highlights her experience and the journey in the Judiciary as the Chief Registrar.
Langa noted that the handover ceremony was for her to give thanks to God for the four and a half years she has been in office since September 4th 2020.
She boasted of achievements, including the Judiciary’s core mandate of disposing of cases, and that since she came into office, the Judiciary has concluded 1.1 million cases.
Langa said she came in following the Enactment of the Administration of the Judiciary Act and four of the key issues, including Inspectorate of Courts, judiciary services regulations on how they enter and exit have since been operationalized.
Langa noted that the new regulations have the deployment policies, and she now goes out with her heart filled with joy. She noted that several rules of regulations have been enacted by the Rules Committee of the Judiciary, of which she has been a member.
According to Langa’s report, she found the Judiciary with 250 judicial officers of the lower bench, but she now leaves more than 500 Judicial Officers from the magistrates and chief Magistrates’ Court.
Langa noted that some magistrates had never been promoted for decades, but she now leaves when at least the majority have been promoted to a certain level, but now only 30 percent haven’t yet been promoted.
She also leaves when she is satisfied and happy that the judiciary now has more visibility and has institutionalized open days, and this has given the public opportunities to interact with the judicial offices.
Langa further indicated that she has enrolled Advocates promptly within two weeks of receipt from the Law Council and that 3,194 Advocates have been enrolled in her tenure.
She has highlighted a few pending issues that she appealed to her successor to conclude, such as ensuring that the pending regulations are signed and put out by the Uganda Printing and Publishing Company (UPPC).
Langa also asked Lamunu to ensure the laws for enhancement of the Magistrate Court Act, which gives them more powers to handle bigger cases, is complete by liaising with the Attorney General.
She also asked the new Chief Registrar Lamunu to complete the Judiciary’s communication strategy, the Process for developing E- role of licensing Advocates such that certificate are done digitally, make sure the report of Court Case Performance Census is released, follow up the backlog and continue publicizing the Judiciary and strengthen the judiciary Public Relations Office ensure there are lawyers in the Judiciary call center.
Langa appreciated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for appointing her as a Judge of the High Court and the Chief Justice for mentoring her when she came into office at a younger age, emphasizing that his humorous stories will live in her head forever.
Lamunu Ochaya described the event as a bittersweet moment. She said it was bitter because they were bidding farewell to Langa, whom she described as a leader who had inspired them with her vision and unwavering support. However, it was sweet because they were celebrating Langa’s promotion, which was a testament to her excellence, empathy, quick decision-making, eloquence, and ability to foster a healthy working environment.
Lamunu Ochaya thanked Langa for always being there to guide her, saying she was grateful to have followed in her footsteps. She also appreciated Langa for entrusting her with various assignments, some of which had non-negotiable deadlines.
Lamunu Ochaya drew a parallel between Langa and her late mother, a humble teacher who had left an indelible mark. She acknowledged that Langa had left big footprints to fill.
The new Chief Registrar expressed her gratitude to the top management for appointing her to the position. She admitted that she had never handled a bigger assignment than the one she was about to embark on. Lamunu Ochaya called for collective effort to excel in her new role.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo kept his remarks brief, acknowledging that the audience was familiar with Sarah Langa Siu and her work. He deviated from his prepared speech, instead sharing a personal anecdote about the mysteries of faith, citing the example of Lucifer’s rebellion against God.
Owiny-Dollo expressed his gratitude to Langa for her endurance in working with him, despite his reputation for being difficult to work with. He humorously denied being humble, saying that humility and he couldn’t coexist. Owiny-Dollo appreciated Langa’s responsibility and work ethic, encouraging others to emulate her example.
The Chief Justice reflected on his decision to defy the Constitution, ensuring that top judiciary officials understood they served the people of Uganda, not him. He questioned the criticism Langa faced for being young when she assumed office at 41, pointing out that Uganda had been led by even younger presidents and prime ministers.
Owiny-Dollo acknowledged that Langa had grown significantly since taking office and was now better equipped to serve as a judge. He revealed that they had disagreed only once, when Langa wanted to become a judge earlier, but he had refused, citing the need for her to continue supporting the judiciary’s transformation.
The Chief Justice advised Langa to continue growing in her career, hoping to see her become a Principal Judge one day. He cautioned Pamela Lamunu, the new Chief Registrar, that she would be held to high standards, given her background as a teacher’s daughter. Owiny-Dollo warned that if Lamunu failed, she would be held personally responsible, not her family or Langa, who had recommended her for the position.
Owiny-Dollo expressed his appreciation for President Museveni’s increased funding for the judiciary, which has enabled the institution to grow from 377 to 705 judicial officers since 2021. He requested continued support, seeking a budget increase to at least 600 billion shillings in the next financial year.
Dr. Pius Bigirimana, the Permanent Secretary, described the handover ceremony as unique, unlike previous ones that were low-key events. What made it special was the launch of Langa’s book, which brought together her family and colleagues she was recently appointed with as Judges.
Bigirimana praised Langa, calling her an incorruptible judicial officer who had consistently delivered high-quality work. As Chairperson of the Contracts Committee, she had demonstrated exceptional leadership, selecting top-notch contractors, including those who built the new Supreme Court and Court of Appeal buildings.
Despite the Attorney General being the official government advisor, Bigirimana revealed that Langa had been his go-to lawyer due to her in-depth knowledge of the law and her ability to deliver assignments on time. He expressed his admiration for Langa’s work ethic and announced that he would miss her at work.
Bigirimana also asked Langa’s husband, Dr. Siu, to compensate her for the sacrifices she made during her four-year tenure as Chief Registrar and referred him to borrow a leaf from his book, “The Naked Truth,” which is a Sexually related book.
Bigirimana advised Lamunu, that she would be stepping into big shoes, requiring significant input and effort to fill the void left by Langa’s departure-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
