Legal\r\npractitioners want government to increase its funding to the justice system and\r\nstep up the protection of prosecutors who face numerous threats in their line\r\nof work. They say that prosecutors play a big role in promoting justice but\r\ncontinue to be vulnerable to organized crime and assassinations.
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The\r\ncall was made at the Inaugural Joan Kagezi Memorial Lecture held at Imperial\r\nRoyale Hotel to pay tribute to the Ugandan prosecutor who died in 2015. Ms. Kagezi\r\na Senior Principal State Attorney attached to the International Crimes Division\r\nwas shot dead by gunmen suspected to be linked to a case (2010 bombings in\r\nKampala) that she was prosecuting.
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The\r\nlecture, attended by among others late Ms. Kagezi’s family was themed; ‘Fighting\r\nterrorism and organized crime’
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South\r\nAfrica’s National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Shaun Abrahams who\r\ndelivered a key note address said that prosecutors are equally citizens who\r\ninteract with society and require all the necessary support to overcome the\r\nrisks they encounter.
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"Prosecutors\r\ndon’t work to earn huge sums of money. They work to offer a service to their\r\ncountry which is equal justice. In order to successfully do their work, they\r\n(and their families) should be guaranteed physical protection at work,\r\nhome and when they travel,” said Mr. Abrahams.
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He\r\nobserved that the state must in equal measure invest in witness protection so\r\nas to strengthen the state’s case as well as protect evidence. The absence of\r\nthis, he said leads to obstruction of justice, dismissals, acquittals and\r\nbribery of witnesses.
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In a\r\nsimilar way, the Chief Justice of Uganda, Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe asked\r\ngovernment to invest in modern technology as well as trained resources since\r\nterrorism is increasingly becoming sophisticated.
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"Criminals\r\nwho mastermind these acts of terror are way ahead of us in resources and\r\ntechnology. In Uganda, we even lack fingerprint and arms experts while\r\ninvestigating,” Hon. Justice Katureebe said.
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On\r\nindividual protection, the Hon. Chief Justice expressed concern over the\r\nreluctance by the state to appreciate the security risk prosecutors in Uganda\r\nface. He said; "We need security more than ever. Our protection should be\r\nguaranteed since it is obvious that our work exposes us to threats.”
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Participants\r\nsuggested that an annual Fund and Award be established in dedication to Late\r\nJoan Kagezi. Many praised her for her dedication, courage, integrity and\r\nremarkable contribution in the fight against terrorism both domestically\r\nand internationally.
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Notable\r\nfigures that attended the lecture included; Rwanda’s Prosecutor General Mr. Richard\r\nMuhumuza, Angola’s Deputy Attorney General Gen. Helder Fernando Pita Groz,\r\nSwedish Ambassador to Uganda H.E Urban Anderson and South Africa’s High\r\nCommissioner to Uganda H.E Gen. Solly Molo.
More information on Chimp Reports
Posted 2nd, May 2016
