Police in Kisoro District are grappling with a shortage of child-friendly detention facilities, a challenge that has at times forced juveniles to be detained alongside adult suspects.
Speaking during a justice sector stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Resident Judge of Kabale High Court, Justice Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kisoro recently, the Kisoro District Police Commander, SP Edatu Cosmus, revealed that the detention of juveniles with adults remains one of the pressing issues police face in the area.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening coordination in the administration of justice and addressing challenges affecting service delivery in the district. SP Edatu also cited the long distance to the nearest remand home and limited community understanding of juvenile justice as factors complicating the handling of cases involving minors.
The Officer-in-Charge of Kisoro Prisons, ASP Emory Yepusa, reported that inmates frequently complain about the long time taken to conclude their cases, particularly those that have already begun hearing. He also noted that moral decline within communities has contributed to cases of recidivism.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Badru Ssebyala, emphasized the need for improved information sharing among stakeholders. He proposed expanding the coordination framework to include the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other relevant actors to strengthen collaboration on justice and security matters.
In his remarks, Justice Ssemogerere underscored the importance of coordination among justice sector institutions in addressing challenges such as case backlog. He noted that effective justice delivery requires collaboration among all actors in the justice chain, observing that no single institution can resolve the issue of pending cases on its own.
The Resident Judge also noted that many residents of Kisoro are eager to understand the law and stressed the need for continued community engagement to clarify legal issues affecting them. According to the judge, once legal matters are clearly understood, many disputes and security concerns can be resolved more easily.
Justice Ssemogerere further revealed that no court session had yet been scheduled for Kisoro in 2026 and called upon stakeholders, particularly the Uganda Prisons Service, to take advantage of plea bargaining as a mechanism for expediting the disposal of criminal cases and easing pressure on courts.
He also highlighted the rapid growth of Kisoro District and cautioned both stakeholders and the public to exercise caution in matters involving land transactions, mortgages, and money-lending arrangements. The judge encouraged transparency in agreements entered into by litigants to prevent disputes that often end up in court.
Commending the Uganda Police Force for their efforts, Justice Ssemogerere described the police as an important link between the State and the public. He urged officers, especially investigating officers who appear in court as witnesses, to perform their duties professionally and effectively.
He also cautioned against the torture of suspects and emphasized the importance of building public trust in law enforcement institutions.
The judge further advised police officers to exercise greater care in age determination and the recording of juveniles’ ages, noting that inaccuracies in such records sometimes prolong court proceedings.
Addressing the Uganda Prisons Service, Justice Ssemogerere acknowledged the challenge of prison congestion and encouraged prison authorities to sensitize inmates about plea bargaining and ensure that long-pending cases are prioritized on the cause list.
