Justice finds a new home: Wakiso High Court launches maiden criminal sessions

In a momentous stride for Uganda’s judicial landscape, the newly operational Wakiso High Court Circuit kicked off its first-ever criminal sessions on Monday, 19th May 2025, amidst pomp, purpose, and a resolute promise to deliver justice to the people of Wakiso. Whisper Eye Reports.

Held at the court’s new permanent premises in Nabweru, the event marked not just a ceremonial beginning, but a historic milestone for Wakiso District—Uganda’s most densely populated area that has, until recently, relied on courts based in Kampala for High Court matters.

The day began with a ceremonial inspection of a full Guard of Honour, led by Hon. Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu, Head of the Circuit, and Hon. Lady Justice Grace Flavia Lamuno Birungi, the Resident Judge. The symbolic salute set the tone for what would be a day defined by collaboration, commitment, and renewed hope.

In her keynote address, Justice Sarah Langa Siu extended a warm welcome to all stakeholders—from prosecutors, defense attorneys, and prison officials, to police, judicial officers, and assessors. She hailed the Judiciary’s strategic expansion, noting that Wakiso High Court is one of five new circuits operationalized under the Judiciary’s access to justice agenda. Its jurisdiction covers the parliamentary constituencies of Busiro East, Busiro North, and Nansana Municipality.

“This court is a response to the cry for justice that is both timely and geographically closer,” Justice Langa said. “The people of Wakiso deserve to access justice in their own district. We have answered that call.”

She emphasized that the criminal sessions were not just routine court business, but a coordinated justice campaign aimed at addressing case backlog and reducing the burden on prisons. “This is our collective responsibility,” she noted, urging stakeholders to work as a unified force.

Hon. Lady Justice Grace Flavia Lamuno Birungi called for full dedication from every actor involved in the sessions. “Each role—whether big or small—contributes to the final outcome. Let us work professionally and expeditiously to ensure these cases are handled with the seriousness they deserve,” she urged.

According to the newly court’s Deputy Registrar, His Worship Mulalira Faisal Umar, over 80 criminal cases are set to be heard during the twin sessions, which will run concurrently. A staggering 80 percent of these involve aggravated defilement, a growing concern in Uganda’s criminal justice system. The remaining cases range from murder, aggravated robbery, and rape, to kidnapping and human trafficking.

“These sessions are not just numbers,” Registrar Mulalira noted. “They are stories of victims waiting to be heard, and of accused persons who have waited for their day in court. Each case is an opportunity to restore trust, accountability.

Stakeholders from across the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) were present, including senior prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Prisons Services personnel from Kigo, Luzira, and Masaka, defense attorneys, police leadership, and court assessors. Many expressed their appreciation for the establishment of a fully operational High Court in Wakiso, praising it as a long-awaited solution to the systemic delays previously faced by litigants in the area.

“Having sessions here not only decongests the prisons, but it also brings hope to the victims of crime and gives accused persons a chance to be heard,” one prison officer noted. “Justice delayed will no longer mea

With the gavel officially raised in Wakiso, a new chapter in Uganda’s judicial history begins—one rooted in community accessibility, faster case resolution, and a people-centered approach to justice.

The sessions are expected to run over several weeks, and for many, the opening day was more than a ceremonial milestone—it was a long-overdue answer to a call for justice in Uganda’s most vibrant and fastest-growing district.

Wakiso now joins the ranks of active High Court Circuits driving the Judiciary’s transformative journey. The message is clear: justice has not only arrived, it has settled in.