Justices of the Court of Appeal have commenced hearings of long-pending criminal appeals in Masaka, in a renewed effort to tackle the growing case backlog in Uganda’s justice system.
A panel of three judges, Christopher Gashirabake, Ketra Katunguka, and Esther Nambayo, is set to handle 31 appeals, some of which date back as far as 2013 to 2020.
The cases include nine murder appeals, 13 defilement cases, six aggravated robbery cases, and three rape cases.
While opening the session, Justice Gashirabake said the special sittings are intended to ease the heavy backlog of cases, but cautioned that persistent financial constraints continue to hamper the Judiciary’s effectiveness.
Concerns over infrastructure also emerged, with Victoria Nakintu Katamba, the Resident Judge of the High Court in Masaka, noting that the court lacks adequate space to conduct hearings.
She explained that the current facilities are shared with the Magistrates’ Court, limiting efficiency, and called on the Judiciary to prioritise the construction of dedicated court buildings in the area.
At the lower court level, Abert Asiimwe commended judicial officers for efforts to curb corruption, though challenges persist. Prosecutors highlighted staffing gaps, revealing that only 15 state attorneys are serving 10 districts in the Masaka region, a situation that has strained service delivery.
Security agencies also raised alarm over rising juvenile crime. The Regional Police Commander, Gad Murungi, said existing detention facilities are overstretched, complicating the handling of child-related cases.
He urged the Judiciary to fast-track such cases to ease pressure on detention centres.
Meanwhile, local leaders voiced concern about alleged misconduct among some judicial officers, warning that it has undermined public confidence in the justice system. They called for increased recruitment of judges and judicial staff to accelerate case disposal.
Justice Gashirabake further recommended expanding the use of plea bargaining as a practical approach to reducing case backlog and improving efficiency in the courts.
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