The Deputy Chief Justice, Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, has urged investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers to prioritise quality investigations, proper documentation and effective management of court records to ensure the fair and efficient handling of criminal appeals.
Kazibwe made the remarks while opening a criminal appeals session in Arua attended by judicial officers, prosecutors, lawyers and litigants.
“Please prepare the records properly. How certified are the records presented before court? You find records with missing pages, exhibits are not attached, and when judges request complete files, they do not arrive. Please, colleagues, let us do our work diligently,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Justice, who also heads the Court of Appeal, stressed that shortcomings in record-keeping and exhibit management often hinder the appellate process.
“I call upon investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers to pay particular attention to the quality of investigations, documentation and record management. Every testimony matters, every exhibit matters, and every detail contained in the trial record must be preserved and presented to the appellate court,” he added.
The three-day criminal appeals session is being presided over by Justices Christopher Gashirabake, Margaret Tibulya and Cornelius Kakooza Sabiiti, who are expected to hear 28 appeals.
The cases scheduled for hearing include 14 murder appeals, nine aggravated defilement cases, two aggravated robbery cases and four rape cases.
Richard Muhereza, representing the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the region, appealed to the Judiciary to operationalise the High Court circuits in Nebbi and Moyo districts, arguing that litigants from distant districts incur significant costs travelling to Arua for court services.
In response, Kazibwe said he would raise the matter with the relevant authorities.
Daisy Yayi, the chairperson of the West Nile Bar Association, also asked the Judiciary to ensure that civil appeals sessions are held regularly in the region.
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