MPs seek to ease access to notary services

MPs have decided to speed up the scrutiny of the Bill determining the organisation and role of public notaries, a legislation that intends to ease access to faster and efficient notary services in the country.On Wednesday, as the Chamber of Deputies’ standing committee on agriculture, livestock and environment, continued its scrutiny of the Bill, members agreed that extending a public notary’s territorial jurisdiction is important.The committee agreed to insert an article suggesting that in case of absence of a public notary at the district level, for a period exceeding two days, his or her duties should be taken over by the notary at the sector in the same district.“District authorities will approve in writing and the minister in charge will be informed,” said Gabriel Semasaka, the committee chairperson.They also noted that the notaries will attend to all matters except those regarding inheritance and immovable properties as these will be managed by other pertinent laws. “People will not have to move to access notary services. Instead, it is the notary that should be moved closer to the people,” Semasaka said.There are over 400 public notaries, across the country. Each sector and district office is supposed to have at least one but whenever they are absent, people who need their services are affected.Any amendments proposed by the legislators at the committee level are subject to change when the law goes back to the plenary.IncompatibilitiesIn the recent past, the committee agreed that people like judges, public prosecutors, court bailiffs, court registrars, and others in public or private functions should not act as public notaries, except those that may be approved by the minister of justice.The Bill was tabled last October. At the time, the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, told the Chamber of Deputies that the colonial era orders in place are outdated and do not favourably govern the notary profession.Once passed, the legislation will fill a void since there is currently no law governing such services.

National

MPs seek to ease access to notary services