The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA) has opened the Attorney General’s Chambers in Hoima City, marking a robust milestone in its ongoing efforts to decentralize justice services and extend the services nearer to the people.
The new chambers, located in Kijungu cell, Hoima East Division of Hoima city, will serve the Hoima High Court Circuit, reducing the logistical challenges that have long affected service delivery in the region.
Speaking at the commissioning, Resident Judge of the Hoima High Court Circuit, Justice Vincent Opyene, highlighted the impact of distance on justice delivery, adding that delays in proceedings, missed hearing dates, and stalled mediation sessions have often been the result of logistical constraints rather than lack of diligence.
Opyene said, the presence of the Attorney General’s Chambers within the court circuit will ensure a more responsive, efficient, and present justice system to the people of the Bunyoro sub-region.
He said the office should not be ceremonial but make an impact on the lives of the people to feel the presence of the office of the Attorney General in the region.
Justice Opyene has tasked the staff attached to the newly established office of the Attorney General to ensure proper time management while resolving most of the disputes in the region.
Deputy Solicitor General Charles Ouma explained that the new Chambers will support a wide range of government legal functions, including civil litigation, legal advisory services, and representation of the State in court.
He says, this will also facilitate prompt filing of pleadings, consistent representation of the government, early resolution of disputes involving the State, and protection of taxpayers’ interests.
He notes that the government, through the Ministry of Justice and constitutional affairs, seeks to ensure that justice services are accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.
He further stated that the development is part of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which prioritizes expanding service delivery through regionalization.
Ouma notes that the establishment of the Chambers will significantly improve efficiency in the administration of justice, stating that with State Attorneys now based within proximity to the court, the justice system will benefit from timely court appearances, improved case preparations, quicker instructions, and more effective participation in mediation.
He adds that the presence of the Chambers is expected to strengthen collaboration among judicial officers, State Attorneys, law enforcement agencies, probation services, and other actors within the justice system.
Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Badru Mugabi says the establishment of the Attorney General’s chambers is a big milestone insofar as service delivery is concerned.
He says, initially, residents in need of solicitor general’s services would trek long distances to Gulu and Fort Portal, but with the commissioning of the Hoima regional office, locals will be served promptly.
The Chief Administrative Secretary of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Alex Katusabe, says it is a big institutional achievement for the people of the Bunyoro sub-region, noting that the operationalization of the regional office will relieve residents of the long distances they used to trek seeking the services of the Solicitor General.
SOURCE: URN
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