Kampala — Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba has expressed grave concern about endless attacks on judges and other judicial officers after the government exempted them from paying tax.

Prof Kanyeihamba said it is high time Ugandans, including sections of the media, appreciated the importance of the role the judiciary plays in society.

"It is a question of how you value the services of these people (judicial officers) in society," said Justice Kanyeihamba, while responding to a critical editorial in Daily Monitor on April 8 titled "Tax exemptions for judges irrational".

He wondered how Ugandans get more agitated about tax exemptions against its judges when they are among of the least paid judges in the world.

He expressed the view that journalists should be the people supporting judges to ensure that they are not unfairly criticised.

Supreme Court judges earn Shs4.9 million and those of the Court of Appeal take home Shs4.7 million, while High Court judges earn a monthly pay of Shs4.5 million. They also earn modest medical, housing and guard allowances.

Justice Kanyeihamba until recently chaired the Judiciary's Committee on Judges' Terms and Conditions of Service, which in 2005 recommended adjustments in the judges' pay.