Judicial plan to improve status of local courts kick off in South Sudan

December 20, 2010 (JUBA) — The regional strategy to improve the status of primary courts in the entire south Sudan has started, with the construction of the first state of the art primary court at Kator, Central Equatoria State.

The over 20 million pounds- primary court and magistrate’s house is one of 20 other such facilities earmarked for construction by the government in the next 14 months. Each of the facilities will cost 300 million pound.

Already, the Judiciary Department has set aside 600 million pound, in this financial year to facilitate the exercise and more funds will be allocated in the subsequent years for execution of the master plan under the Legal Sector Reform Programme (LSRP).

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Juba, the Secretary General of the judicial affairs in the semi autonomous region of South Sudan, Justice Madol Arol Kachuol, said the other state of the art primary courts would be constructed in the other states of East and Western Equatoria and will be extended to Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Regions once funds are availed for infrastructural development.

“We have a lot of plans to improve on the status of our judicial infrastructure across the region. We are doing it in stages and so started with greater Equatoria and will extend to the other remaining regions and states at earliest time possible if we continuous to get financial assistances,” said Justice Madol.

Others, according to him, will be built at Tonj South, Tonj East, Tonj North in Warrap State, Cueibet, Awerial, Maper, Akot, Adior, Aluak luak and Wulu in Lakes State. He further said there are plans to build offices in each of the county headquarters in all the ten states of south Sudan.

“This will start immediately after receipt of financial assistance in Upper Nile state and strategic places to be followed by other phases depending on availability of funds,” he said.

“It is my hope that the government and other development partners will continue supporting the new policy of the Judiciary Department, by allocating substantial budget to facilitate speedy and quality delivery of justice in the country,” he said.

Future plans would see the present 195 primary courts undergoing major renovations and new ones constructed.

The Kator Primary Court was a typical example of how other primary courts should look like, being part of deliberate moves to attract magistrates to stay and concentrate on their work stations.

“We have now started implementing our new policy whereby University graduates will be posted in these courts to suit the current judicial needs,” he said.

The history of the Kator Primary Court goes back to colonial era when experienced traditional chiefs worked as an advocate of the then colonial local court.

For years until the court was upgraded after construction last year, Kator Primary Court activities were conducted in one small room hence affecting timely hearing of the cases.

The situation was still the same in hundreds of other primary courts in the South Sudan today.

Justice Madol advised magistrates to take full advantage of the new court premises equipped with modern working tools to deliver timely justice and avoid corruption practices.

The construction of courts, like Kator, has increase pride and confident that the government has now determined to ensure quality delivery of justice.

The entire Equatoria region had 80 primary courts but all with the exception of Kator and another in Yambio to be opened soon- were in pathetic condition.

“These buildings were completed – within 14 months – so we expected with the support from the public, other courts will be completed in time as well,” he said.

(ST)