Supreme Court to Handle 20 Criminal Appeals in Two Weeks
At least 20 Criminal Matters are set to be concluded in a Criminal Appeals session that will last two weeks at the Supreme Court.
The session that kicked off on Tuesday (November 3, 2020) is being handled through the videoconferencing system.
During the hearing, the Court consolidated two appeals by businessman Mr. Godfrey Kato Kajubi who is challenging the life imprisonment sentence handed to him for the ritual murder of 12-year-old Joseph Kasirye.
A panel of five Justices led by the Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo consolidated the two criminal appeals that Kajubi filed separately by using two different law firms.
The other Justices on the panel are Hon. Lady Justice Stella Arach, Hon. Lady Justice Faith Mwondha, Hon. Lady Justice Professor Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza, Hon. Justice Opio Aweri, Hon. Lady Justice Percy Night Tuhaise, Hon. Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi and Hon. Justice Mike Chibita.
The only difference in Mr. Kajubi's two appeals is that one was filed by a law firm: Wameli and Company Advocates, in 2019 and the other by Nakaga and Company Advocates in October 2020. But they are all challenging one aspect of his conviction and subsequent sentence handed to him by Masaka High Court.
However, after consolidation, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Simon Peter Semalemba told the Justices that he had responded to only one appeal by Wameli and Company Advocates and asked to be guided on how to proceed.
In their guidance, the Justices said the DPP’s submissions are going to be adopted such that they can be reflected to respond to both appeals since they all have similar grounds then judgement will be on notice.
Posted 2nd, November 2020
