DCJ Flags off Fort Portal Court of Appeal Criminal Session
The Hon. Deputy Chief Justice opening the Court of Appeal session in Fort Portal
Fort Portal. On February 7, 2018 the Deputy Chief Justice,Alphonse Owiny-Dollo, opened a Court of Appeal criminal session in Fort Portal.
The hearings started off with the justices led by Hon. Justice Owiny-Dollo listening to the public, and a one Albert Mwebaze questioned the continued incerceration of former Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister John Sanyu Katuramu who has been in prison for more than 20 years over the murder of Prince Happy Kijanangoma.
Hon. Justice Alfonse Owinyi-Dollo the Deputy Chief Justice responding on the matter said that as court they executed their duty of sentencing Mr. Katuramu to death but his punishment was later reduced to life imprisonment and it is up to the president through the prerogative of mercy to free Katuramu.
The Deputy Chief Justice Justice, Hon. Justice Owinyi-Dollo revealed that the judicial process is to bring harmony, peace and prosperity among citizens he also tasked citizens in the Rwenzori Region to make good use of the Justices who will camp in Fort Portal for over a month.
The session will handle 55 appeals on murder, aggravated defilement, and robbery and rape cases. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the DCJ said the Judiciary plans to establish regional courts of appeal.
He also appealed to Government to recruit more judges in order to dispose of the huge case backlog in the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal has only nine justices out of the approved 15 justices.
A coram of three justices; Hon. Justice Kenneth Kakuru, Hon.Justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende and Hon. Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke, will handle the session.
Posted 8th, February 2018
