BY OUNI JASPHER
DOKOLO: The Dokolo Chief Magistrate’s Court held an open day with the aim of addressing the various negative perceptions that the community holds towards judiciary officials.
The event, which took place on Friday November 24th with the theme “Enhancing Judicial Accountability & Access to Justice”, saw a large turnout of attendees who raised pertinent questions and concerns regarding their experiences with the court system.
Alfred Okori, a resident of Agwata, raised a common issue regarding court officials not properly handling compensation payments.
He shared an example of a suspect who had pled guilty and agreed to pay 6.5 million in compensation for burning his motorcycle. However, according to him when the money was paid to the court registry, it did not reach the owner.
Okori said such cases of mishandling of compensation payments erode the community’s trust in the judiciary and leave victims feeling let down.
Ferdinand Owii from Adok sub county questioned why murderers are often released from custody after just three weeks.
Sam Ojok, another attendee, highlighted the issue of witnesses refusing to come forward to aid in legal proceedings.
According to Ojok this can significantly delay the court process and create frustration for both the court and the parties involved.
Lawrence Ongako raised a crucial question about the cost associated with obtaining bail among other questions.
This event was attended by various officials, including the Chief Magistrate of Dokolo, Irene Nambatya, who shared some important information about the court’s current state.
One of the key issues highlighted by Nambatya was the backlog of cases, with 10 pending cases and 120 grade one cases.
She notes that the backlog is further exacerbated by challenges such as the lack of basic amenities like toilets and unreliable power supply, poor road Network, the distance between the court and Amolatar district also presents a major problem, as many witnesses struggle to attend court sessions, resulting in the dismissal of 99% of cases involving the people of Amolatar.
To address these issues, Nambatya urged authorities through the principal judge “We pray that all the above challenges be addressed including organizational trainings to improve the court’s operations.
She also expressed her struggles with inadequate equipment and the issue of on-and-off power supply hindering their work.
Ezra Mucunguzi, the officer in charge of Dokolo government prison, highlighted how the prison engages convicts in agricultural activities and handicrafts, providing them with skills and opportunities for rehabilitation.
Thomas Oyo, the officer in charge of Dokolo Central Police Station, recognized the efforts of officials from the Dokolo Magistrate’s Court for being approachable and dedicated to their work.
Barbra Akech, the Resident District Commissioner Dokolo confirmed that the team at Dokolo Magistrate court are good people who socialize with community.
She said team work has made it easier to fight crime in Dokolo being up growing district.
Jonathan Okello, the Chief State Attorney Regional Officer in Lira, who thanked President Museveni for appointing Hon Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo as the first female Principal Judge, after serving as the first head of Directorate of Public Prosecutions in uganda.
Okello pledged their support for Abodo and emphasized the importance of accountability to the community.
He added, “Last year, we had a very successful Court open day in Lira. In the Lira region, we have 17 staff members and over 3,000 committed cases. We have had over 200 successful plea bargains, and others have been resolved in high court.”
According to Okello some of the Challenges being faced are; short notice for plea bargain, juvenile are being charged like adults, no machine for detecting children ages.
The Lira High Court Resident Judge, Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala also shared her insights on the challenges faced in the sector and how it affects the community.
She highlighted the issue of youth being charged as adults due to the long distance they have to travel to access the court in Gulu.
This further emphasizes the need for more judges to be placed in the Lango region, as suggested by Godfrey Kawesa, the Deputy Registrar of the Lira High Court.
He expressed his gratitude towards President Museveni for recognizing and trusting women in leadership positions and also shared that over 3 million Ugandan receive services from the Lira court circuit, with over 2000 cases being handled.
In the pursuit of justice and efficient court processes, Deputy Registrar Kawesa also suggested that court open days be held quarterly across the country.
Hon. Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Principal Judge who was the chief guest shed light on the peaceful nature of the Lango and the need for collaborative efforts among judicial officers.
In her speech, Hon. Lady Justice Abodo emphasized the importance of training not only judicial officers, but also opinion leaders and cultural leaders.
”This holistic approach to addressing issues in a particular area is crucial in order to fully understand the root of the problem and find effective solutions” Abodo explained.
She also highlighted the need to promote alternative dispute resolution methods such as small claims procedures, plea bargain, and reconciliation, in order to decrease the backlog of cases and ensure swift justice for all.
One particular issue that Hon. Lady Justice Abodo spoke passionately about was the matter of bribery within the justice system as it was raised by community members.
She made it clear that no money should be paid to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) as they are salaried employees.
In fact, she revealed that in 2022, she personally approached the President to request for their salary enhancement and making them tax exempt, along with providing them with official vehicles.
Hon. Lady Justice Abodo firmly stated that justice is not for sale and the practice of paying money to ODPP is not legal and will not be tolerated if at all it’s true.
