Wakiso High Court kicks off Criminal Session with focus on integrity and backlog reduction

Wakiso High Court has today commenced its criminal session with a pre-session meeting bringing together justice sector stakeholders, local leaders and religious leaders at the Court premises in Nabweru. Whisper Eye Reports.

The meeting was presided over by the Head of Circuit, Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu, ahead of the session scheduled to run until 15th May 2026.

In her remarks, Justice Langa welcomed stakeholders and emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in the administration of justice. She particularly commended the presence of religious leaders, noting that beyond the traditional justice actors, faith leaders play a critical role in community engagement and support to court processes.

She noted that the session is part of the nationwide criminal sessions launched by the Principal Judge, Lady Jane Frances Abodo, and that Wakiso High Court is targeting to handle 50 cases during this period.

Justice Langa emphasized that the session will be guided by the theme of integrity and anchored on the “three Cs”; communication, cooperation and coordination, as key pillars for successful case disposal. She commended the assessors, the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, district leaders and members of the Bar for their continued support in the delivery of justice, and encouraged political leaders to attend court sessions to better appreciate the justice process.

The Court’s Deputy Registrar, HW Faisal Mulalira, said the session will mainly 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.

HW Mulalira expressed confidence that the session will achieve its intended objectives, noting that the Court will maximise the available time to deliver impactful results.

He further highlighted the need for more suitable court premises to match the growing caseload in Wakiso. He 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, the Wakiso District Vice Chairperson, Ms. Bettimah Nantege, pledged the District’s support and cooperation with the Court, including mobilising the public to actively participate in the session.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr. 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, and emphasized that addressing the challenge requires coordinated efforts among all stakeholders.

The session will handle a range of serious offences, including Aggravated Defilement accounting for 30 of the case files. The other cases being handled are Murder, Aggravated Robbery, among others.

Patience Kengoro