Katura Wokorach-Oboi
The Gulu-based Northern Region Resident Judge, Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi is scared over cracks on the wall ceilings at Kitgum Chief Magistrate Court.
The judge is starting the second week of a High Court Criminal Session in Kitgum set to last some 40 days. The court is taking place in the room normally used by Chief Magistrate.
The wall ceiling has several cracks, with one pronounced one running across from one end of the wall to the other. There are also other tiny but visible cracks on the ceiling.
“Are we very safe with these cracks?” Lady Justice Mutonyi asked, during a lull in a defilement hearing on Monday, while pointing at the cracks on the ceiling.
Some of the court officials present attempted to assure her that all was well but the High Court judge didn’t seem convinced.
“I don’t feel safe with these cracks. Remember how cracks (ceilings) gave way sometime back at Twed Towers?” she asked.
In 2013, the ceiling of Twed towers which houses the Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal and the Land and Civil Division of the High Court caved in. Judges escaped unhurt. Last month, a ceiling from the same building caved in again.
Jude Ogik of Jude Ogik and Company Advocate who has been running a law practice in Kitgum for the last one decade acknowledged that the cracks pose a danger.
“I have lived with these cracks for six years now but we kind of ignore it. But now that it has been pointed out, I need to follow it up seriously,” Ogik told Acholi Times.
It is not uncommon to find government buildings bearing wall ceilings with huge gaping cracks on them. A serious case in point is the Community Hall at Namokora which is also used by the sub-county council for its meetings.
The huge gaping cracks there look a real danger to lives of those who use it, more so when the wall ceiling is sagging in some parts. The lady Justice would perhaps not dare to step even an inch inside the hall.
