NABWERU – Wakiso High Court today commenced its criminal session with a pre-session stakeholder meeting at the court premises in Nabweru, rallying justice sector actors, local leaders, and religious leaders around a joint push to clear case backlog and strengthen community participation in justice delivery.
The meeting was presided over by Head of Circuit, Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu, ahead of the session which is scheduled to run until 15th May 2026.
In her remarks, Justice Langa welcomed stakeholders and underscored the importance of inclusive participation in the administration of justice.
She commended the presence of religious leaders, noting that beyond traditional justice actors, faith leaders play a critical role in community engagement and support to court processes.
She said the session is part of the nationwide criminal sessions launched by Principal Judge Lady Jane Frances Abodo, adding 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 assessors, the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, district leaders, and members of the Bar for their continued support, and encouraged political leaders to attend court sessions to better appreciate the justice process.
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.
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, 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.
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, with aggravated defilement accounting for 30 of the case files. Other cases set for hearing include murder and aggravated robbery, among others.
The Wakiso criminal session is one of several running concurrently across the country as the Judiciary intensifies efforts to reduce pre-trial detention and expedite justice delivery.
