Principal Judge Assesses Progress of Daily Hearings for For SGBV Cases at Nwoya CM Court
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo (L)
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has assessed the progress of the daily hearing of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases at Nwoya Chief Magistrate's Court during a monitoring mission conducted in partnership with UN Women.
During the visit held this morning, Lady Justice Abodo commended the judicial officers for their dedication to duty, particularly while serving communities outside major urban centres. She underscored the importance of engaging directly with officers in the northern region to better understand their working conditions and operational realities.
The Principal Judge emphasized that the Judiciary cannot operate in isolation, highlighting the critical role played by key justice sector stakeholders, including the Police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),and political leadership. She explained that the purpose of the visit was to assess the effectiveness of the ongoing dedicated Justice for Her SGBV programme, identify implementation gaps, and agree on practical solutions, particularly in light of earlier funding delays.
She further stressed the need for stronger coordination and data-driven decision-making, noting that accurate statistics are essential for informed policy development. The Principal Judge also called for a survivor-centred approach in handling SGBV cases, increased community sensitisation, deeper engagement with development partners, and the inclusion of men in SGBV prevention efforts.
Additionally, she urged judicial officers to appreciate justice from the perspective of the communities they serve, noting that perceptions of justice often differ across communities and must be taken into account in service delivery.
The Deputy Country Representative of UN Women, Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, described SGBV as a complex issue rooted in power dynamics, with economic and psychological dimensions. She highlighted UN Women's role in empowering women and supporting survivors throughout the justice process.
Ms. Ndieli commended the Judiciary and other justice actors for their commitment despite initial implementation delays and encouraged continuous reflection to identify gaps and strengthen case handling. She reaffirmed UN Women's commitment to supporting all actors within the justice value chain and noted that SGBV prevalence in Uganda remains high, estimated at about 65 percent.
Representing the Acting Chief Registrar, HW Jude Muwone Okumu, from the Registry of Magistrates' Affairs and Data Management appreciated the unity and teamwork demonstrated by judicial officers in delivering justice in Nwoya.
He conveyed the Chief Registrar's call for a reduction in SGBV cases and emphasized the need for expeditious handling of such matters to enhance public confidence in the justice system.
The Nwoya Chief Magistrate HW Omara Innocent David reported notable progress under the programme, indicating that 20 SGBV cases had been disposed of in Nwoya and nearly 20 in Amuru within one and a half months. However, he noted that approximately 50 cases remain pending in each district.
He added that while coordination among justice actors has improved, there is still a need for intensified community sensitisation on SGBV and the justice process.
Remarks delivered on behalf of the District Police Commander highlighted that strengthened coordination between the Judiciary, Police, and the Uganda Prisons Service has contributed to improved conviction rates in SGBV cases.
The meeting was attended by the the Resident District Commissioner, Judicial Officers from Nwoya, Atiak, and Amuru courts, representatives of the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Law Society, probation and community service officers, as well as officials from UN Women.
Posted 17th, April 2026
