The High Court in Iganga has officially kicked off a criminal session aimed at strengthening collaboration among justice sector actors and accelerating the delivery of justice.
Presided over by Lady Justice Ida Nakiganda, the session opened with a ceremonial inspection of a guard of honour mounted by the Uganda Police Force.
She later convened a pre-session meeting that brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Uganda Prisons Service, defence counsel, and court assessors.
In her remarks, Lady Justice Nakiganda underscored the importance of teamwork and coordination, calling on all actors in the justice chain to effectively execute their roles. She emphasized the need to ensure the availability of key witnesses, noting that their participation is vital for the timely conclusion of cases.
Reaffirming the Judiciary’s commitment to improving access to justice, the Judge highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce case backlog and enhance efficiency in the justice system.
She further stressed that all proceedings will strictly adhere to Article 28 of the Constitution of Uganda, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing, describing it as a cornerstone of criminal justice.
A total of 50 cases have been scheduled for hearing during the session, including aggravated defilement, murder, aggravated robbery, and rape. The session is expected to significantly ease the burden of long-pending cases within the Iganga Circuit.
The pre-session meeting was moderated by Assistant Registrar HW Salaam Godfrey Ngobi, setting the tone for a coordinated and results-driven session.
