The Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, has called for the alignment of all retooling projects under the Administration of Justice Programme (AJP) to the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV).
Speaking at a meeting to discuss and approve the retooling projects for institutions within the AJP, Dr. Bigirimana revealed the importance of ensuring that all projects are in line with the country’s broader development objectives.
Dr. Bigirimana was joined at the meeting by Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra Kalyegira, Director of the Law Development Centre (LDC), and other key stakeholders from the Judiciary. The meeting focused on reviewing and approving the proposed retooling projects ahead of the expiry of the National Development Plan III (NDPIII) at the end of the 2024/25 fiscal year.
He informed the group that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development had communicated that all retooling projects must now align with NDPIV. This, he noted, necessitates the formulation of new retooling initiatives that support the goals and priorities of the new development plan.
He also reminded the group that, according to the Development Committee Guidelines of 2016, Programme Working Groups must discuss and approve projects before they are submitted to the Ministry of Finance for final approval.
“The retooling projects are crucial as they directly impact the justice service delivery chain. It is vital that we avoid any disruptions to this chain and eliminate silos in the delivery of justice under NDPIV,” Dr. Bigirimana emphasized.
During the meeting, Dr. Bigirimana also urged the institutions involved to prioritize automation in their projects, pointing out that automated systems ensure the accuracy of information and efficiency in service delivery. He stressed that the Ministry of Finance is strict in its adherence to the Development Committee’s guidelines for project approvals and that all proposed projects must meet the required standards.
The meeting saw various entities within the judiciary present and discuss their Project Frameworks. Among the participants were Ms. Maureen Kasande, Under Secretary for the Judiciary, HW Prossy Katushabe, Registrar of the Judicial Training Institute, Ms. Apophia N Tumwine, Commissioner of Human Resource Management at the Judiciary, Mr. Simon Peter Opolot, Head of Policy and Planning, and Mr. Kagoro Julius Caesar, Principal Policy Analyst. These representatives, along with others from the Programme Institutions, contributed to the discussions and deliberations.
Dr. Bigirimana’s call for a strategic approach to retooling and aligning projects with the national development agenda is seen as an essential step in ensuring that the judiciary and other justice institutions continue to function efficiently and effectively in the coming years. With the NDPIV now in focus, the Administration of Justice Programme Working Group is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the sector’s projects contribute to the overall goals of social and economic development.
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