Chief Justice Bart Katureebe announces closure of All courts over Coronavirus Fears
The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has issued an order commanding all courts in the country to close for 32 days over fears of Coronavirus.
President Museveni on Wednesday 18th ordered the temporary closure of all schools, bars, places of worship and other places that attract large gatherings over Coronavirus fears.
In response to the President’s directive, the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has in a circular to his deputy, all Justices, Magistrates and judiciary staff, called for the closure of all courts proceedings for 32 days from 20th March amid coronavirus fears.
According to Katureebe, for cases that are at the stage of submission, the respective courts may advise the counsel or parties to file written submissions letters.
“All court hearings and appearances are hereby suspended for 32 days with effect from March 20, 2020. For cases at the stage of submissions, the respective courts may advise the counsel/ parties to file written submissions,” said Katureebe.
Katureebe said that all execution proceedings are also suspended for the same period except where the attachment has already taken place.
Courts will only continue to handle certificates of urgency and taking a plea for serious cases and bail applications.
An applicant and his lawyer or in the case of the bail application, the sureties will be the only participants allowed in court.
“All execution proceedings are hereby suspended for the same period except where the attachment has already taken place. Courts will continue to handle certificates of urgency and taking a plea for serious cases and bail applications. Only the applicant and their lawyer or in the case of the bail application, the sureties will be allowed in court.” Katureebe added.
Meanwhile, other guidelines including sanitizers and other preventive measures including digital thermometers have already been purchased and will be deployed at various court premises as a way of dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak.
“In addition to the above guidelines, sanitizers and other preventive measures have already been put in place. Digital thermometers are also being purchased and will be deployed at various court premises.”
As of today, no case of Coronavirus has been reported in Uganda however, all Uganda’s closest neighbours including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda have all registered at least more than one case.
Museveni who was speaking to the country about the outbreak of the deadly pandemic implied that it is a wise move even before Uganda has registered any case to put up measures that can prevent it from spreading.
According to Museveni the population estimate of Ugandans is at 42 million and they are determined to see that all these people are not concentrated in one place.
Therefore, they have decided that all schools will close for one month from Friday 20th March starting from mid-day.
Meanwhile, all religious gatherings and places of worship including churches and Mosques have also been suspended for a month with immediate effect.
