The Masaka High Court circuit is struggling to deliver justice because there aren’t enough state prosecutors.
This shortage is causing serious delays in handling cases, and many people are concerned that justice is being compromised.
With too few prosecutors available, cases are piling up, leaving victims and the accused waiting longer for their day in court.
Aloysius Baryeza Natwijuka, the Masaka Chief Magistrate, pointed out that while more judges and magistrates are being brought in, the number of state attorneys isn’t keeping up.
This means that many cases are getting postponed over and over again because there aren’t enough prosecutors to handle them.
The backlog is growing, and it’s becoming harder for the courts to ensure that justice is served in a timely manner.
Baryeza explained that out of the 17 lower-grade magistrates working across the 10 districts in the greater Masaka sub-region, only four courts have state attorneys assigned to them. This shortage is making it difficult to deliver justice effectively.
He raised these concerns during a Court Open Day at the Masaka High Court on Tuesday. Baryeza pointed out that most of the magistrates’ courts in the area are depending on police prosecutors, who don’t have the right skills to handle cases properly in court.
Baryeza explained that out of the 17 lower-grade magistrates working across the 10 districts in the greater Masaka sub-region, only four courts have state attorneys assigned to them. This shortage is making it difficult to deliver justice effectively.
He raised these concerns during a Court Open Day at the Masaka High Court on Tuesday. Baryeza pointed out that most of the magistrates’ courts in the area are depending on police prosecutors, who don’t have the right skills to handle cases properly in court.
Baryeza appealed to Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija, asking him to push the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to send more state attorneys to help speed up the delivery of justice.
He also requested that the judiciary reconsider the roles of Grade One magistrates, suggesting that they should be allowed to handle higher-value disputes.
This change could ease the burden on Chief Magistrates, who are currently overwhelmed with a backlog of cases that Grade One Magistrates could potentially manage if given the authority.
Meanwhile, Masaka Senior Resident Judge Victoria Nakintu Katamba encouraged the public to use alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation, reconciliation, plea bargaining, and neutral evaluation.
She urged local communities and leaders to discourage unnecessary lawsuits, especially for minor disputes that could be settled outside of court.
However, Yusuf Babumba, a court user from Lyantonde district, raised concerns about the judiciary’s handling of cases involving powerful individuals who manipulate the legal process, especially in land disputes.
In response, Principal Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija acknowledged these concerns and highlighted the importance of open court sessions and public input to help the judiciary improve service delivery.
He also encouraged judicial officers to engage in public awareness programs to build stronger connections between the courts and the communities they serve.
END
English 