JUDICIARY Latest Features

Justice Ssemogerere Karoli Lwanga, the Resident Judge of Kabale High Court Circuit (Left)

Justice Ssemogerere Karoli Lwanga, the Resident Judge of Kabale High Court Circuit, made his second official visit to the Kabale Remand Home since assuming office in April 2025.The visit, part of his commitment to strengthening the justice system for children, was conducted in the company of Mr. Anguzu Jonathan, the Justice for Children(J4C) Coordinator for the Kigezi Region, and Ms. Monica Muhumuza, the Senior Probation and Social Welfare Officer for Kabale District.

They were received by Mr. Hussein Wasswa, the Probation Officer at the remand home, along with staff members Aine Trust, Moses, and Raymond.

During the visit, Justice Ssemogerere reaffirmed his resolve to conduct quarterly engagements at the facility, underscoring the Judiciary's role in advancing a child-sensitive justice system. In a meeting with the probation officers, he raised concern over instances of juveniles being misclassified in age during arrest and police processing, often leading to wrongful remand. He emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to facilitate access to birth certificates, especially for those previously enrolled for National IDs.

While addressing the juveniles, Justice Ssemogerere underscored the transformative power of education and proposed that the probation office conduct regular visits to schools attended by juveniles. He noted that such visits would not only monitor the children's progress but also evaluate the quality of education and services provided. Ms. Muhumuza echoed this need, stressing the importance of assessing school capacity to ensure rehabilitative efforts are effective.

In a forward-looking proposal, Justice Ssemogerere advocated for the integration of digital skilling into the rehabilitation programme. He recommended the provision of a computer at the remand home, stating, "The world is growing fast technologically. With access to a computer, a juvenile may discover a gift that could shape their future." He tasked the J4C coordinator with exploring ways to provide internet access and urged the probation office to actively monitor juvenile rehabilitation while ensuring timely resolution of child-related cases, including through appropriate out-of-court settlements.