Kitgum, Uganda- The High Court in Kitgum has commenced a specialized criminal session dedicated to the adjudication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, in a renewed effort to deliver timely justice to victims in northern Uganda.
The session, which officially opened on February 10, is handling cases arising from Kitgum and Lamwo districts. It is being presided over by Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, Resident Judge of the Kasese High Court.
Justice Tweyanze was formally received by the Resident Judge of the Kitgum High Court, Justice Philip Mwaka, who led him on a guided tour of the court premises and pledged full institutional support to ensure the success of the session and the comfort of the visiting judge.
Proceedings began with a formal Guard of Honour mounted by the Uganda Police Force. This was followed by a pre-session stakeholders’ meeting aimed at aligning justice-sector actors involved in handling SGBV cases.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, advocates, district leadership, cultural and religious leaders, the Uganda Prisons Service, the Uganda Police Force, and civil society organisations.
The session was moderated by HW Suzanne Aisia Musooli, Deputy Registrar of the Kitgum High Court, who described the initiative as a critical intervention in reducing case backlog. She confirmed that 40 SGBV cases have been cause-listed for hearing, comprising 29 cases of aggravated defilement, eight cases of rape, and two cases of aggravated child trafficking.
In his remarks, Justice Tweyanze emphasised the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring justice for victims of SGBV. He noted that the Judiciary does not operate in isolation and that the success of the session depends on the cooperation, integrity, and professionalism of police officers, prosecutors, judicial officers, and community leaders.
He also called for high ethical standards in the handling of sensitive cases to avoid re-traumatising victims.
Justice Tweyanze acknowledged the Government of Uganda and the European Union for funding the session, describing the initiative as a vital investment in justice delivery and community stability in the region.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reported that disclosure has been completed in 35 of the 40 cases, with the remaining files being expedited after having been inadvertently retained at the regional office.
District officials, representing the Chief Administrative Officer, highlighted strong collaboration with the Judiciary through the Regional Coordination Committee. They reaffirmed the district’s commitment to allocate 12 acres of land for the High Court, noting that the land titling process is ongoing. Officials also pledged radio airtime to support public sensitisation ahead of the hearings.
The Uganda Prisons Service confirmed that all inmates required for the session are available, except for one accused person who has since passed away. The Uganda Police and court process servers also confirmed full readiness, with several witnesses already served and present to testify.
Following the stakeholders’ meeting, the court immediately commenced its first sitting. On the opening day, plea taking and scheduling were completed, and two case files were concluded, setting a strong pace for the remainder of the specialised SGBV criminal session.
Among those in attendance was HW Flavia Namugga, a Magistrate Grade One (Research) attached to Justice Tweyanze.
