The Kajjansi High Court Criminal Circuit is set to hear 41 cases in the two month long session aimed at promoting access to justice for people in the area.
The Presiding judge of the first High Court criminal session at Kajjanzi Magistrates Court, Justice Karoli Ssemogerere emphasised the need to ensure vulnerable communities access justice.
“This year’s judicial theme, is access to justice but especially, let’s think about access to justice for vulnerable populations……When they talk about justice, justice must be done, must also be seen to be done. But at the same time, we must remember that the accused persons have a right to a fair hearing” he said.
Justice Ssemogerere noted need for courts and stakeholders to make efforts to settle cases to avoid instances where criminal cases overtake civil cases in the court system.
“It means that the failures in the civil system are resulting now in more criminal cases. Everywhere you go, the story is the same. From the point of view of the court system, we must double up our efforts and our stakeholders, it means let this file not over-delay on somebody’s desk” he said.
He urged courts to explore alternative dispute resolutions like plea bargains in order to serve justice in a number of cases before the courts of law.
The Entebbe High Court assistant registrar Rashida Butanula, said the session will among other things help clear a number of case backlogs from the Entebbe High Court mainly written from 2022 to 2024.
The Kajjansi Chief Magistrate Her Worship Doreen Olga Karungi, said by end of March, Kajjansi court had 627 pending cases, of which 311 are civil cases, 290 criminal cases, 26 small claims cases and a case backlog of 69 cases.
Karungi said the courts criminal cases are products of land matters in the area and called on the Judiciary to construct a permanent building to house the court since it currently rents space from an individual.
The cases to be heard include; 13 Aggravated Defilement cases, 7 malicious damage, 7 murder cases, 5 aggravated robbery cases, 1 rape case, 1 Threatening violence, 1 case of failing to0 control noise, 1 case of false pretence, 1 case of forgery, 2 criminal trespass cases, one case of assault occasioning bodily harm and one case of neglect to prevent a felony.
