Delayed Justice Fueling Violence - Mbarara Residents
The Hon. Justice Dr. Bamwine at the Mbarara Court Open Day
Residents of Mbarara District said delayed justice by courts\r\nof law is fueling violence.
\r\nThe residents were interacting with judicial\r\nofficers during Mbarara Chief Magistrate’s Court open day on May 6, 2015.
\r\n"People have resorted to violence, especially in\r\ncases of land wrangles that take long to be resolved in courts. A case drags on\r\nfor over five years and the aggrieved parties see no hope for justice,” said Mr\r\nAsaph Bigirwa, a resident of Mwizi Sub-county.
\r\nMbarara RDC Nickson Kabuye acknowledged\r\nland-related cases drag in court for a long time.
\r\n"Sometimes we get frustrated by the justice\r\nsystem. In Uganda, there is no land ownership that is hard to determine but it\r\ntakes court over seven years to determine the actual owner. It’s a very big\r\ndisappointment, and that could be the reason some residents turn to violence,”\r\nsaid Mr Kabuye.
\r\nThe Hon. Principal Judge, Hon. Justice Yorokamu\r\nBamwine also observed that delay in delivering justice remains a big challenge\r\nto the Judiciary.
\r\nHe, however, noted that at times it is not their\r\nweaknesses. He said the Judiciary would fight hard to ensure cases are\r\nexpeditiously disposed of.
\r\nHon. Justice Bamwine, however, noted that while\r\nthe cause could be reluctance of judicial officers, limited funding also bogs\r\ndown their efforts. "We are just given 0.6 per cent of the national budget and\r\nyou say why do cases delay? This budget automatically cannot enable us have the\r\nnecessary manpower to successfully carry our mandate,” he said.
This article was published by Daily Monitor on May 11, 2015
Posted 11th, May 2015
