JSC IN FREE-FALL! Justice Singiza in the Dock as Tax Arrears, Staff Shortages & Case Backlogs Rock Judicial Commission
An audit storm is raging inside Uganda’s Judicial Service Commission, and at the centre of it all sits Chairperson Dr. Singiza Douglas Karekona, now facing tough questions over a trail of financial gaps, operational failures and a choking backlog of complaints that has left the institution struggling to keep its head above water.
Shocking 2025 Auditor General report reveal that the Commission failed to budget for UGX.133.84 million in outstanding PAYE arrears carried forward from the previous financial year, with the tax obligations dating as far back as 2020/2021. “How do you run a key constitutional body without planning for obligations that have been hanging for years?” an insider asked, describing the situation as “a ticking financial time bomb.”
Inside the Commission, the staffing situation paints an equally grim picture. Out of an approved workforce of 196, only 101 positions are filled, leaving a massive gap of 95 employees. “We are operating at just 52 percent capacity. Files are piling, pressure is mounting, and delivery is slowing down,” a source within the institution confessed.
The cracks extend to asset management, where the Commission has failed to regularly assess its long-term assets, raising fears of underutilisation and misuse. Even more alarming is a fleet of fourteen vehicles worth UGX.1.29 billion that have exceeded their recommended five-year lifespan but are still in use. “These vehicles are costing more to maintain and breaking down more often. It’s inefficient and risky,” another insider revealed.
Procurement practices have also come under heavy scrutiny. The Commission failed to reserve any procurement opportunities for registered associations representing women, youth and persons with disabilities, undermining a key government objective of inclusive participation. Worse still, procurement plans were riddled with vague entries such as “workshops” and “meetings” instead of clearly defined goods and services. Out of planned procurements worth UGX.6.57 billion, only UGX.6.068 billion was executed, leaving UGX.504.16 million worth of goods and services unprocured.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, fifteen procurements worth UGX.6.067 billion were processed manually outside the electronic government procurement system without any justification. “This completely undermines transparency and accountability,” auditors observed, adding that “such practices open doors for abuse.”
The Commission’s strategic direction is also in disarray. Its 2020/21 to 2024/25 strategic plan was underfunded by UGX.57.52 billion, crippling its ability to deliver on its mandate of judicial education, public legal awareness and handling disciplinary cases. Out of twenty-four planned interventions, only five were achieved. “We aimed high but lacked the resources and discipline to deliver,” a senior official admitted.
To make matters worse, the Commission failed to document lessons learned from the outgoing strategic plan, raising fears that the same mistakes could be repeated.
Financially, the Commission received UGX.19.47 billion out of an approved UGX.20.54 billion, leaving a shortfall of UGX.1.07 billion. Of the funds released, UGX.17.85 billion was utilised, representing 91.7 percent absorption. Yet despite this, performance remained uneven, with nine outputs fully implemented and two only partially achieved.
Revenue collection told a surprising story, with actual collections hitting UGX.12.68 million against a modest target of UGX.584,383, largely driven by the sale of bid documents. But even this could not mask deeper operational inefficiencies.
The most damning revelations lie in how complaints are handled. Preliminary evaluations that should take one day often drag on, leading to a growing backlog. Worse still, the Commission failed to maintain proper summary records of complaints received and evaluated. “You cannot manage what you do not track,” a governance expert noted.
Out of 138 complaints received during the year, only 83 were investigated, leaving a significant backlog. The Investigations Department handled just 60 percent of cases forwarded to it, while the Disciplinary Committee managed to hear only 129 out of 170 cases. “That’s a system struggling to keep up with its own workload,” a source said.
Although the full Commission resolved 117 out of 129 cases it received, achieving a 91 percent clearance rate, the backlog from earlier stages continues to weigh heavily on overall performance.
Further scrutiny revealed that recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee for the 2021/22 financial year were not fully implemented, with four only partially addressed and one completely ignored. “It shows a pattern of weak follow-through,” a critic charged.
As pressure mounts, the spotlight remains firmly on Dr. Singiza Douglas Karekona and his leadership team to explain how a body entrusted with safeguarding judicial integrity has found itself entangled in inefficiencies, financial lapses and operational gridlock.
GOT A HOT STORY? EMAIL: redpeppertips@gmail.
SOURCE PROTECTION/CONFIDENTIALITY IS OUR NO.1 PRIORITY.
About Post Author
