Direct finance to release funds for arrears, PS Bigirimana asks MPs

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Judiciary Permanent Secretary (PS) Pius Bigirimana has warned lawmakers that he may be forced to shut down rented court offices if they insist he stops accumulating arrears.

“It’s not a threat. I am going to tell the landlord to close offices and there are implications that cases will not move on. That’s what it means and I will do it from here, if MPs insist that I am offending the law, I am going to close the offices,” Bigirimana said.

He made the remarks on February 26, 2025, while appearing before MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC/Central) chaired by Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala County, NUP).

The discussion revolved on the 2023/24 Financial Year (FY) audit report, which revealed that the Judiciary had accrued sh13.37b in arrears, with sh2.8b tied to rent for various court premises.

However, while appearing before the committee, Bigirimana said the only viable solution is for Parliament to push the finance ministry to release the required funds.

“Assume you are the one, what do you do? Do you tell judges to get out, we have to leave this place? Let’s be understanding, I think that’s the dilemma I have and I am going to continue accumulating arrears, let me promise you… I am only saying that I am not going to remove judicial officers from their chambers,” he said.

However, if they opined otherwise, he would have no option other than cease renting court premises, which would have a trickle down effects on the dispensation of justice in the country.

If such a thing were to happen, this means that, apart from the Appellate Court, which has already relocated to own premises, other key judicial units such as the High Court’s Civil and Land Divisions, the Anti-Corruption Court, and the International Crimes Division which are all still housed at TWED Towers at Nakasero and upcountry court premises would be left is suspense.

“Do you want to choose that direction, or you want to help me to tell finance to give me the money. I think the latter is better. You will have done good service for this country,” Bigirimana advised.

Good riddance 

However, his remarks triggered a harsh response from lawmakers. With some condemning his submission as rude while others such as Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu (Kalungu West, NUP) arguing that a decision to shut down those courts has no bearing on the ordinary businessman.

“Those courts, which the Judiciary has been renting are not rented from local people like Ssewungu and other types. These are people who are highly placed. When you talk about TWED plaza, don't think they went there by mere going, not everyone can get that chance and that kind of person cannot fail to get his or her money in time,” Ssewungu observed.

“Recently, the country was excited. We received very many new judicial officers and they were vetted. I am worried that those ones, all their new requirements to assume office might end up being a query here. You need the wigs, clothing, vehicles, they might end up coming here as a query immediately. So, was that planned for?” Fredrick Angura (Tororo South, NRM) posed.

Other arrears

Documents seen by New Vision Online reveal that out of the sh13.37b in arrears accumulated by the Judiciary in the 2023/24 financial year, sh91.9m was owed to Wamuco Garage for car repairs, sh1.29m to Big Orange Express Courier Ltd, sh254m to SUMABOLT Logistics and sh155.8m to A&S Electronics Ltd.

Additionally, it owed sh3.6m to Palwan Engineering Works Ltd, sh2.46m to KALU General Services, sh303.7m for cleaning services, sh7.3m and sh13.65m to Nina Interiors Ltd, and sh10.25m to Dezy Business Systems Ltd.

“Those small people who clean, let me be crude, who go out and clean the toilets where you go, you don’t pay. Can you believe you can’t pay a cleaner? Don’t give so much of an excuse because I have seen here, of the money you budgeted for and were given only sh28b was not availed to you. The rest of the money as per the budget, actually you are one of the lucky institutions,” he wondered.

During the year under review, the Judiciary had a revised budget of sh392.7b but only sh362.6b has been released.  

Fast forward, Kivumbi vowed to bring this discussion to the attention of finance ministry when they meet soon.