MAGISTRATES have been asked to smile when dealing with the public.

The Secretary to the Judiciary, Dorcus Okalany, told the judges that smiling does not compromise their work, but instead makes them friendlier.

“Do not scare the public. Try to smile. When you smile it does not mean that you are not doing your work,” Okalany told the magistrates on Friday.

She was officiating at the closing of a three-day workshop for magistrates, court registrars and administrators at Ridar Hotel in Seeta near Kampala.

Okalany said most people feared going to courts because of the bad atmosphere.

She said because of this, some witnesses were scared of testifying, which slowed down the disposal of cases.

Okalany also advised the magistrates to encourage mediation in resolving disputes instead of litigation, which she said takes more time and resources.

“When a husband and a wife come to you over a dispute, why don’t you mediate instead of encouraging them to go through the legal process,” Okalany asked.

She proposed that courts should start open days to sensitise people on what is expected of them.

Okalany advised the magistrates to be on the look out for people who masquerade as court staff.

She said such people tarnish the image of magistrates, who are sometimes accused of being corrupt.

The magistrates asked the Government to avail them with tax-free vehicles.

They also asked for computers to make their work easy.

The magistrates added that more training in planning, budgeting, procurement and general management was also needed.

They also proposed to have regional public relations officers to improve the image of the Judiciary.