JUDICIARY Latest Features

(L-R)HW Lamunu(Ag. Chief Registrar), Dr. Chiwangu, UN Women Country Representative, Principal Judge, Justice Dr. Zeija, H.E. Dr. Kerschbaumer, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation in Uganda, Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, Resident Judge Masaka

The Principal Judge, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija presided over the launch of the Judiciary Time-Share Fast Mechanism for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, codenamed as Justice 4Her, at Masaka High Court.

Justice Dr. Zeija expressed his gratitude for being part of the launch, emphasizing that Justice 4Her is not merely an initiative but a beacon of hope. He highlighted the Judiciary's commitment, alongside justice stakeholders and development partners, to ensuring full access to justice for survivors of violence.

"The initiative reaffirms that justice is not a privilege for the few but a right for all, especially for women who have endured violence and injustice for far too long," he stated.

The Principal Judge noted that, as in many parts of the world, numerous women and girls in Uganda suffer in silence, trapped by societal norms, economic barriers, and systemic inefficiencies. "Many GBV cases remain unresolved due to limited legal awareness, fear of retaliation, or a justice system that feels inaccessible."

He emphasized that this project will address structural and cultural barriers to justice for GBV survivors by: Improving case pre-trial preparation, enhancing the use of technology during trials, strengthening capacity development and staff well-being, providing institutional support to victims and ensuring offenders' rights are protected through meaningful legal representation and proportionate sentencing.

He called upon all stakeholders to empower GBV survivors not only with legal support but also with the confidence that their voices matter, their experiences are valid, and their rights will be upheld. He stressed that achieving justice requires collaboration between the government, civil society, legal professionals, and communities.

"A cornerstone of this project is multi-sectoral coordination, demonstrated through joint cause-listing of trial-ready cases and case conferencing," he said, recognizing the role of probation and social welfare officers in tracing victims and drafting victim impact statements.

Justice Dr. Zeija said the participating courts include Masaka High Court and the Chief Magistrates' Courts of Masaka, Kalangala, Ssembabule, and Rakai. "Each court will establish a GBV case management team comprising judicial officers, investigators, prosecutors, legal aid service providers, and probation and social welfare officers. These teams will determine quarterly caseloads and set case resolution timelines," he said.

The Principal Judge concluded by thanking development partners, particularly the Austrian Development Agency for funding the project and UN Women for steering its implementation. "Together, let us build a future where every GBV survivor, regardless of circumstances, has the power to seek and receive justice," he said.

The Masaka High Court Resident Judge, Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, provided a status update on Masaka High Court's caseload. He reported that half of the criminal trial cases are GBV-related. The Court has a caseload of 4,203 cases with 1,260 cases criminal cases ready for trial. Of the 1,260 cases, 565 (nearly 50 per cent) are GBV-related.

He assured stakeholders that Masaka High Court is well-prepared to handle GBV cases, emphasizing that their ICT infrastructure is ready. He called on political and religious leaders to support the initiative by raising awareness and advocating for justice.

Justice Tweyanze also expressed appreciation to the Judiciary's Top Management for their cooperation and continuous efforts to secure the necessary resources for the project’s success.

The Ag. Chief Registrar HW Lamunu Pamela Ocaya thanked the Principal Judge for presiding over the launch and for his dedication to making Justice 4Her a reality. She also acknowledged Justice Tweyanze's leadership in piloting the project across the Masaka High Court Circuit.

HW Lamunu recognized the Austrian Development Agency and UN Women for initiating the project, specifically appreciating H.E. Dr. Katja Kerschbaumer, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation in Uganda, and Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women Country Representative.

HW Ocaya highlighted the Judiciary’s ongoing struggle with high caseloads and backlog, noting that as of January2025: Total pending cases were 173,628 with a backlog of 43,560 cases, with a workforce of 707 judicial officers. She emphasized that GBV cases account for a significant portion of the caseload, illustrating the urgent need for interventions like Justice 4Her. "Beyond being just numbers, these statistics represent real people-victims who need support during and after trials, and an overwhelmed judicial system struggling to handle case volumes efficiently," HW Lamunu said.

She also outlined how UN Women’s partnership with the Judiciary will enhance GBV case management through fast-track systems, aligning with the National Development Plan IV (2025/26 -2029/30), which prioritizes gender equality as a key factor in sustainable development.

And noted that a training session for judicial and non-judicial technical officers involved in implementing the project would take place tomorrow.

Dr. Katja Yvonne Kerschbaumer (Head of Austrian Embassy/Development Cooperation), noted that the project builds on the first phase, which focused on enhancing women's and girls’ access to justice through effective, accountable, and gender-responsive institutions.

"This new phase will prioritize the actual disposal of GBV cases across the Masaka, Gulu, and Arua High Court Circuits, ensuring timely and quality justice services for survivors," she said.

She reaffirmed Austria's commitment to human rights, gender equality, and the protection of vulnerable groups, emphasizing that GBV is a widespread violation with devastating societal consequences.

"Addressing GBV is not just a moral imperative but a critical factor in achieving sustainable development and upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals," she added.

Dr Katja stressed that institutionalizing daily hearings for GBV cases would strengthen public trust in the justice system and demonstrate Uganda’s commitment to protecting survivors.

"Institutionalizing daily hearingsand enhancing justice sector capacity will not only improve access to justicebut also transform the system into one that serves all individuals, regardlessof gender, status, or location," she said.

She thanked all project partners,including the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,Uganda Police Force, civil society organizations, religious and culturalleaders, and UN Women, for their collaborative efforts in promoting access tojustice.

The UN Women Country Representative,Dr. Paulina Chiwangu emphasized that combating GBV requires significantresources and thanked the Austrian Development Agency for its continuedsupport.

She reaffirmed UN Women's commitmentto ending all forms of violence against women and girls, stating that access tojustice is a fundamental component of a gender-responsive judicial system.

"GBV remains a critical issue inUganda, affecting both human rights and national development," she noted,citing alarming statistics: 51 per cent of Ugandan women experience physicalviolence, adding that the Uganda Police Annual Crime Reports (2021-2024) showrising cases of defilement, rape, and domestic violence. 

She emphasized that Justice 4Herseeks to institutionalize GBV case hearings, reduce case backlog, enhance victim support, and improve legal outcomes through judicial training and resource allocation.

Dr. Chiwangu concluded with an African proverb: "One finger cannot pick up a grain." She underscored that ending GBV requires collective action-governments, civil society, communities, and individuals must unite to challenge harmful norms, strengthen legal protections, and ensure survivors receive the support they need. "We rely on the dedication of justice actors-law enforcement, the Judiciary, and legal aid providers-to uphold the rights of women and girls. Only by working together can we create a safer, more just society for all," she said.

The event was attended by judicial officers and support staff under the Masaka High Court Circuit, alongside various justice actors, political, religious, and civic leaders, as well as members of the public.

The Judiciary Public Relations Officer, HW James Ereemye Jumire Mawanda and Mr. Deo Akugizibwe, Communications Officer for the Judiciary, were the moderators at the launch.