Machar inaugurates judicial reform committee

JUBA – First Vice President and leader of the main opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) Dr. Riek Machar Teny on Thursday inaugurated a 12-member steering committee on judiciary reform.

The committee headed by Justice James Ogola, Principal Judge Emeritus of Uganda, is mandated under the 2018 peace deal to review the judiciary act and build the capacity of judicial, personnel, and infrastructure.

The committee chaired and deputized by representatives from IGAD also comprised members of the SPLM, SPLM-IO, SSOA, FDs, and OPP.

The committee is tasked to undertake judicial reforms, and restructuring the judiciary within 6 months period.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the Judicial Reform Committee (JRC) in Juba on Thursday, Machar said the government will assist the committee to accomplish its task within six months.

“We in the government will double our efforts to ensure that they do their work within the time specified which is six months,” Dr. Machar said.

Dr. Machar urged the Ad-Hoc committee to improve the judicial system in a bid to ensure that rule of law is respected.

“We now have a judiciary which we expect to be independent, to be transparent, and to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the country.”

Justice Ruben Madol Arol, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs said the committee is mandated to amend relevant laws, and restructure and empowerment of judges.

“We are all aware that the formation of Judicial Reform Committee marks the beginning of the implementation of article 1.17 of the R-ARCSS which mandated the IGAD and the RTGoUN to constitute an Ad-Hoc committee,” Madol said.

“The committee will reform judiciary by way of amending relevant laws, restructuring, and empowerment of judges.”

Justice James Ogola, Principal Judge Emeritus of Uganda said will work in collaboration and cooperation with the leadership of judiciary reform required in the sector.

“We will work steamily closely with leadership and the administrators of the existing judiciary to attain the elusive judicial holy reform,” Ogola said.

“The mandate of this distinguish members of JRC is to bring the best of their best abilities and efforts to work but the historic task of reforming the judiciary.”