KAMPALA– The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, today met with Mr. Alex Bennie, Programmes Director of Evolve – Foundation for International Legal Assistance, at the Court of Appeal in Kampala.
The meeting, a follow-up to last week’s engagement with Ms. Tanya Murshed of the same foundation, focused on tackling the backlog of appeals for condemned inmates.
Also present were HW Prossy Katushabe (Registrar, High Court), HW Julius Mwesigye (Personal Assistant to the DCJ), and Mr. Vincent Lwanga (Project Coordinator, Evolve Foundation).
In his remarks, Dr. Zeija underscored the urgency of intensifying searches for missing files to ensure that long-pending capital appeals progress. He also pointed out systemic challenges such as inadequate remuneration for state brief lawyers, but expressed optimism that with increased funding, improved file management, sustained lawyer training, and coordinated special sessions, significant progress could be made in reducing the backlog.
Mr. Bennie outlined Evolve’s ongoing efforts to strengthen support for capital cases through pro bono legal services. He reported that lawyers recently underwent specialized training to better handle capital cases, with the aim of ensuring timely representation and reducing unnecessary adjournments.
HW Katushabe highlighted persistent challenges in managing case files, citing inconsistencies in their transmission from the High Court to the Court of Appeal. She called for centralizing the receipt and management of files to prevent loss and recommended a systematic review of sessions conducted outside Kampala to account for unreturned files.
