Chief Justice and his or her deputy will continue getting the benefits they are enjoying while still in active service at the judiciary even after they have retired.
This is according to the Administration of the Judiciary Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament during Tuesday’s plenary sitting.
Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda proposed that the Chief Justice and the Deputy should have full benefits and other judicial officers get 80% of their benefits when they retire.
The Attorney General William Byaruhanga says that the senior judicial officers need to be supported to enjoy their retirement because many of them are too old to pursue any other form of employment by the time they leave the bench.
He said that this payment to retiring judicial officers would motivate them and not get worried of fuel bills and other requirements after retiring.
Opposition Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda equally supported Byaruhanga’s proposal saying that these are senior judicial officers who dedicate most of their time to the country. Ssemujju’s submission was contrary to a section of other legislators who were proposing 80 percent salary during retirement.
The proposal was approved by parliament despite an objection from West Budama North MP Richard Othieno who questioned the rationale for paying the same salary to a retired judicial officer when the country is still struggling to appoint enough judges.
Bukooli Central MP Solomon Silwany had also argued that payment of the same salary to a retired Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice would demotivate those in active service.
Meanwhile, retired Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Retired Principal Judge, Judges of the High Court, the Chief Registrar, Registrars, Deputy registrars and all Magistrates will be paid 80 percent of their salaries in retirement. Currently, the Justices of the Supreme Court earn 18.3 million Shillings monthly while those of the Court of Appeal receive 17.9 million Shillings.
On top of the payments, the judges will receive security provided by the government, a one-off lump sum retirement benefit equivalent to 2.4 percent of the annual salary multiplied by five years of service. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ephraim Kamuntu said that the payments to judicial officers during retirement are to ensure that the active officers serve with diligence and confidence not to be compromised.
Jacob Oboth, the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chairperson said that the approval of the Administration of Judiciary Bill was long overdue since it is meant to give effect to the separation of powers between the three arms of government.
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga blamed the delayed approval on the Bill to lack of commitment from the previous Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
On more than three occasions, Parliament last year failed to consider the Bill after government disagreed with the committee report in regard to retirement benefits of judicial officers. The government then sought more time to harmonize with legislators outside the floor of parliament.
Government had proposed that retiring judicial officers leave with their full benefits in addition to wages given to their spouses and children something that was strongly opposed by legislators.
