The Resident Judge of Kabale High Court, Justice Ssemogerere Karoli Lwanga, on Wednesday visited Ndorwa Main Prison to assess preparations and engage inmates ahead of an in-house criminal session scheduled to commence on July 1, 2026.
The visit forms part of the Judiciary’s ongoing efforts to enhance access to justice and address the growing backlog of criminal cases in the region.
Justice Ssemogerere was accompanied by Assistant Registrar HW Kenneth Tumwebaze, State Prosecutor Isaac Onynago, counsel on State brief Ms Noeline Naggayi and Racheal Nkwanzi, advocates Agnes Natukunda, Hanning, and Felix Bakanyebonera, as well as Jonathan Anguzu, the Justice for Children Coordinator.
The delegation was received by the Officer in Charge of Ndorwa Main Prison, Julius Kisembo, who praised the Resident Judge for his regular prison visits and commitment to bringing justice services closer to inmates.
During the engagement, inmates presented a memorandum expressing concern over cases dating back to 2021 that remain pending before the courts. They appealed for older cases to be prioritised during the forthcoming criminal session and thanked the Judiciary for organising the exercise.
In response, Assistant Registrar Kenneth Tumwebaze explained that the court follows a first-in, first-out system when preparing cause lists, ensuring that older cases are generally given priority for hearing.
He also sensitised inmates on the plea bargaining process, encouraging eligible prisoners willing to admit responsibility for offences to take advantage of the mechanism.
Justice Ssemogerere revealed that Ndorwa Main Prison currently has about 320 committed criminal cases awaiting disposal, making it impossible to conclude all matters during a single session.
“To conclude all these cases would require about six to seven criminal sessions,” he said, urging inmates whose cases have been listed for hearing to utilise the opportunity fully and avoid unnecessary adjournments.
The judge further noted that inmates who opt for plea bargaining are accorded priority but cautioned against abusing the process by registering for plea bargaining solely to secure a place on the cause list before withdrawing.
He also reminded inmates that bail remains available to deserving applicants who meet the legal requirements for its grant.
The upcoming criminal session will hear 59 cases committed between 2021 and 2026, involving both male and female inmates. The matters scheduled for trial include serious offences such as murder, rape, aggravated defilement, aggravated trafficking in children, and aggravated robbery.
Justice Ssemogerere reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to reducing case backlog, saying efforts would continue to secure additional criminal sessions to expedite the hearing and disposal of pending cases.
