The Resident Judge of the Kabale High Court Circuit, Justice Ssemogerere Karoli Lwanga, has raised concern over the misclassification of juveniles’ ages during arrest and police processing, a practice that often results in wrongful remand of minors.
Justice Ssemogerere made the remarks on Wednesday during his second official visit to the Kabale Remand Home since assuming office in April 2025. The visit, aimed at strengthening the juvenile justice system, was conducted alongside Anguzu Jonathan, the Justice for Children (J4C) Coordinator for the Kigezi Region, and Monica Muhumuza, the Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer for Kabale District.
The team was received by Hussein Wasswa, the Probation Officer at the remand home, together with staff members Aine Trust, Moses, and Raymond.
In a meeting with probation officers, Justice Ssemogerere reiterated his commitment to holding quarterly engagements at the facility, emphasizing the judiciary’s role in promoting a child-sensitive justice system.
He called for strengthened collaboration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to improve access to birth certificates, particularly for juveniles who had previously enrolled for National IDs.
While addressing the juveniles, Justice Ssemogerere highlighted the transformative potential of education and proposed that the probation office conduct regular school visits to monitor the children’s progress and assess the quality of education and support services provided.
Muhumuza supported the proposal, emphasizing the importance of evaluating school capacity to ensure that rehabilitation efforts are meaningful and effective.
In a forward-looking recommendation, Justice Ssemogerere advocated for the integration of digital skills training into the remand home’s rehabilitation program.
He proposed the provision of a computer at the facility, noting, “The world is advancing rapidly in technology. With access to a computer, a juvenile may discover a talent that could define their future.”
He tasked the J4C coordinator with exploring ways to provide internet access to the facility and urged the probation office to enhance monitoring of juvenile rehabilitation.
He also emphasized the importance of resolving child-related cases promptly, including through appropriate out-of-court settlements.
