By Andama Moses
In Masindi——
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The resident judge Masindi high court Mary Babirye has revealed that Masindi high court is having a backlog of 453 cases.
She noted that the court is currently handling 1034 cases, 83 cases were registered this month, 61 were disposed off this month in addition to the backlog.
She also said that in the chief magistrate’s court, they have 706 cases being handled and a backlog of 101 cases.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that we improve access to justice. We encourage people to practice negotiations, plea bargain and mediation,” she said.
She however, noted that they’re grappling with a challenge of space where to put the suspects when they come to court, adding that apparently, they’re kept at the chief magistrate’s premises which sometimes inconveniences.
Babirye also noted that they have a challenge whereby cases are not being committed to the high court saying that they are having engagements with the directorate of public prosecution (DPP) to have it harmonized.
“We have 209 cases which have been committed and ready for prosecution. Uncommitted cases are 75 and we are engaging the DPP to ensure that they’re committed,” she added.
She also said by March 20th, 37 cases were ready for plea bargain, adding that they are engaging with the relevant stakeholders to have the plea bargain session.
According to Pensive Tukasiime the district police commander Masindi, they are normally grappling with criminal cases accruing from land wrangles.
“Since this year started, we have registered 12 murder cases all accruing from land wrangles. Out of the 12 cases six have appeared in court, four are still for further inquiries while two are still at police,” said Tukasiime.
She said the biggest challenge they have is the land cases which take long in court saying the overstaying of cases sometimes cause other criminal cases.
Damali Nabulya, the officer in charge Masindi government prison noted that they’re currently grappling with congestion, adding that their facility has a capacity for 266 inmates but apparently, they have 1816 prisoners.
She said that 430 are convicts while 1386 are on remand. She added 338 who committed murder offenses have been committed to high court, others who have been committed include 143 who are on aggravated robbery, 316 aggravated defilement, 67 on rape and five on cases of trafficking.
She added that they have a challenge of prisoners who are overstaying on remand without attending high court trials urging the concerned to organize for more plea bargain sessions.
Carolyn Nabbasa Hope, the principal Director of Public Prosecution wondered why there are appeals coming up from the plea bargain.
“We need look to thoroughly into the issue of appeals coming up from the plea bargain. We are wondering why we have these appeals. If people have sat and agreed why appeal? In the plea bargain process every stakeholder should be involved before coming out with the final judgement,” she appealed.
Susan Zemei who spoke on behalf of the advocates called for the expeditious handling of estate cases whenever they come in court arguing that the more they delay, the more criminal cases come out.
She further called for the digitization of Masindi and Hoima high court circuits to ease their work.
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