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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 43978, member: 636"] Lawyers working under Masaka High Court stopped taking cases last Thursday. They want more judges because court delays have become a major problem. The lawyers say they need at least two more judges and another registrar before they return to work. Their leader Alexander Lule explained that nine districts depend on just one judge at Masaka High Court. The current setup cannot handle even a quarter of all the cases. Deputy Chief Justice Flavian Zeija called the strike unnecessary and premature. He said the lawyers acted without talking to court officials first. Zeija revealed that a second judge, Victoria Nakintu Nkwanga, already has an assignment to Masaka but remains on study leave until next month. The lawyers never sent formal complaints to the chief justice or principal judge about their concerns. Zeija believes they should have tried talking before walking out. Female lawyer Salimat Mutale defended the strike action. She argued that justice system problems have lasted far longer than they should. Mutale pointed to 415 family cases stuck at Masaka High Court because judges are missing. These delays make domestic violence situations worse across the region. The shortage also threatens a program that helps women and girls who survive gender-based violence. Lawyer Roland Muwezi said the strike helps the public, not just attorneys. He noted that Masaka had six law firms in 2000 but has over 50 firms today. The workload has grown dramatically as population increases and conflicts multiply throughout Greater Masaka. [/QUOTE]

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