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Case backlog will be addressed – CJ Dollo 

(Last Updated On: 23 June 2022)

The Judiciary has developed costed backlog clearance work plans for integration into the general Judiciary Case Backlog Reduction Plan for the year 2022.


By Okot Lil Romeo

Gulu – June 23, 2022: The Chief Justice of Uganda Alfonse Owiny Dollo has launched a “plea bargain camp” to ensure over 700 cases before courts are handled to completion.

For years now, the judiciary is overwhelmed with a case backlog and dozens of suspects have to wait for their cases to be completed.

Launching the “expeditious” way of handling pending cases at Gulu main prison, Chief Justice said there should not be hope for a plea bargain when you know that you are guilty.

The Judiciary began to make major reforms by introducing plea bargains to reduce the case backlog. This has been implemented since 2014.

 Today, one of the “worst common problems” hitting inmates in Uganda prisons is congestion, and torture, among others.

 Gulu government prison alone has 1244 male inmates and 121 females, totaling 1365 inmates. They are being housed in a building whose capacity is meant for 247 inmates.

Still in Gulu, out of the total inmates, 425 are already convicts while 819 are on remand. There are over 60,000 inmates in Uganda, per available data.

 Judiciary takes steps 

On January 18, 2022, heads of High Court circuits held a retreat to deliberate on strategies aimed at reducing the case backlog. 

During a one-day retreat at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel – Kigo, the judges came up with seven key resolutions of improving service delivery in the Judiciary. 

They committed to developing costed backlog clearance work plans with defined time frames which will be integrated into the general Judiciary Case Backlog Reduction Plan for the year 2022. 

Holding regular meetings to set and review targets, proper records management, and implementing a robust Alternative Dispute Resolution framework were some of the recommendations made by the Judges. 

Additional information from the judicial website.

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