Hon. Justice Baguma Kicks off Criminal Session in Mpigi
Hon. Justice Baguma inspecting the guard of honour before the start of the criminal session
The Mpigi Resident Judge, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Baguma, on Thursday July 26, 2018 opened a special month-long criminal session at Mpigi High Court.
According to a cause list signed by the Mpigi Deputy Registrar, HW Cissy Mudhasi, 30 cases will be handled.
The Session was kicked off with a ceremonial opening with Hon. Justice Baguma inspecting a guard of honor. This was followed by a stakeholder meeting.
The bulk of the cases to be handled are sexual related offences. According to the cause-list,13 cases are for aggravated defilement, seven for rape, seven for murder,two aggravated robbery and one case for robbery.
Case Backlog Strategy
Speaking to court stakeholders after the opening ceremony, Hon. Justice Baguma explained that the court had a case backlog clearance plan.
"We developed phased cause-lists and have three sessions planned," and that each session will handle 30 cases for easy disposal.
Mpigi High Court has 155 committals and of these 64 were committed to High Court for trial between 2011 and 2016.
The Judge said the court has 400 land matters which will also be handled in a phased manner starting with the oldest.
Alongside the session, the Judge will be handling plea bargains.
He said his court will be handling appeals and revisions in the afternoons.
"We shall do our best to ensure that all court users get justice without unnecessary delay," Hon. Justice Baguma said.
He said the lower courts will be submitting quarterly reports of pending cases saying a plan is in place to ensure that all backlogged cases are handled before the end of the Financial Year.
The Judge also stated that special sessions will be held for children in conflict with the law.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Ms. Pamela Ajilong, the Regional CID Officer for Katonga Region commended Judiciary for the efforts to fight backlog and pledged to stand by the court.
The Deputy Regional State Attorney, Ms. Lucy Kabahuma, said the Directorate of Public Prosecution has an open door policy.
Mr. Peter Clever Mutuluza, the Mpigi LCV lamented on the high number of sexual-related cases on the cause list. He urged the courts to speed up the trials of such cases.
It was revealed that Butambala District had allocated three acres of land for the construction of a Chief Magistrates court.
The next Criminal Session at Mpigi High Court is set to kick off in October, 2018.
Posted 30th, July 2018
