The Rukungiri High Court has commenced an in-house criminal session, with a total of 40 cases lined up for hearing, covering a range of serious offences.
The session kicked off on Tuesday with a pre-session meeting that brought together key justice sector stakeholders, including officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), defence counsel, court assessors, as well as representatives from the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service.
Presiding over the meeting, the Resident Judge, Lady Justice Susan Kanyange, urged all participants to prioritise effective time management to prevent unnecessary delays in proceedings. She also called on advocates to engage and adequately brief their clients in advance to ensure smooth handling of cases.
Justice Kanyange emphasized the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders, noting that coordinated efforts are vital for the timely disposal of cases. Although the session is being conducted in-house, she observed that most of the cases originate from Kanungu District.
Addressing State Attorneys, the Resident Judge stressed the need to ensure the availability of witnesses, highlighting their crucial role in the expeditious hearing of cases.
The cause list includes 17 cases of aggravated defilement, 14 of murder, seven of rape, one case of trafficking in persons, and one of aggravated robbery.
Justice Kanyange reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to delivering justice without undue delay, noting that criminal sessions remain a key strategy in reducing case backlog and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
