The Wakiso High Court on Monday commenced its criminal session with a pre-session meeting that brought together justice sector stakeholders, local leaders, and religious leaders at its premises in Nabweru.
The meeting was presided over by the Head of Circuit, Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu, ahead of the session scheduled to run until May 15, 2026.
In her remarks, Justice Langa welcomed stakeholders and emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in the administration of justice.
She particularly commended the involvement of religious leaders, noting that beyond traditional justice actors, faith leaders play a vital role in community engagement and supporting court processes.
She explained that the session is part of nationwide criminal sessions launched by the Principal Judge, Lady Jane Frances Abodo, and revealed that Wakiso High Court is targeting to handle 50 cases during this period.
Justice Langa noted that the session will be guided by the theme of integrity, anchored on the “three Cs” communication, cooperation, and coordination, as key pillars for effective case disposal.
She commended assessors, the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Prisons Service, district leaders, and members of the Bar for their continued support in the delivery of justice.
She also encouraged political leaders to attend court sessions to better understand the justice process.
The Court’s Deputy Registrar, Faisal Mulalira, said the session will primarily focus on clearing backlog cases from 2020 and 2021, as well as some from 2022.
He added that, in response to public demand, the Court will also include between five and seven newer cases already on the cause list to enhance public participation, particularly in matters where witnesses are readily available.
Mulalira expressed confidence that the session will achieve its intended objectives, noting that the Court will maximize available time to deliver impactful results.
He further highlighted the need for more suitable court premises to match the growing caseload in Wakiso and called upon district local government leaders to lobby for land allocation to facilitate the construction of a permanent High Court in the district.
Speaking at the meeting, Wakiso District Vice Chairperson, Bettimah Nantege, pledged the district’s support and cooperation with the Court, including mobilizing the public to actively participate in the session.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Alex Bireta, urged state actors and prosecutors to embrace plea bargaining as an effective tool for reducing case backlog.
He noted that both the Judiciary and the prison system are under significant pressure due to the high number of pending cases, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders.
The session will handle a range of serious offences, with aggravated defilement accounting for 30 of the case files. Other cases include murder, aggravated robbery, among others.
