Gulu, Uganda — The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has commended judicial and non-judicial officers working in hard-to-reach areas for their resilience and dedication to delivering justice under challenging conditions.
During her tour of the Gulu High Court Circuit, Justice Abodo inspected Atiak Magistrate’s Court, Amuru Magistrate’s Court, and Nwoya Chief Magistrate’s Court, where she engaged court staff on improving service delivery, promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and addressing operational challenges.
At Atiak Magistrate’s Court, the Principal Judge praised the magistrate and support staff for their commitment despite limited resources. She particularly highlighted the importance of ADR in easing case backlogs and reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to improving staff welfare in remote duty stations.
She stressed the critical role of transport in the administration of justice, noting that judicial officers require reliable mobility to effectively execute their duties.
“A motor vehicle is not a luxury in terms of access to justice; it helps judicial officers carry out their work without having to use public means alongside litigants,” she said.
The Deputy Registrar of the Gulu High Court Circuit, His Worship Ebong George, pledged to follow up with local authorities on securing land for court development. He also commended the integrity and diligence of the Atiak-based magistrate, His Worship Ogwen John Timothy, noting that no corruption complaints have been recorded against him.
His Worship Ogwen informed the Principal Judge that Atiak’s jurisdiction spans five sub-counties, with the furthest located 46 kilometres away. The court currently operates with only three support staff and a caseload of 36 matters.
He added that all criminal cases are handled at Amuru Chief Magistrate’s Court, located 88 kilometres away, due to the absence of a State Attorney and prison facilities in Atiak—a situation that has discouraged some litigants from pursuing justice.
At Amuru Magistrate’s Court, Justice Abodo urged judicial officers to scale up the use of ADR and the Small Claims Procedure to enhance access to justice, especially in light of anticipated case increases following amendments to the Magistrates Act.
She also encouraged the identification and training of community stakeholders as mediators to support dispute resolution efforts.
“Keep doing the right thing, for in this era of technology we are able to know everything that happens in courts, even those far away from the center,” she noted.
The Magistrate Grade I at Amuru, His Worship Aballa Godfrey, reported a caseload of 259 pending cases, with an additional 57 cases before the Chief Magistrate’s Court. He highlighted key challenges, including the need for court renovations, access to water, furniture, adequate staffing, judicial housing, and transport for official duties such as locus visits.
Meanwhile, at Nwoya Chief Magistrate’s Court, the Principal Judge applauded the leadership of the Chief Magistrate, attributing the court’s strong performance to effective management. She emphasized the need for communities to embrace ADR, plea bargaining, and the Small Claims Procedure to improve access to justice.
Justice Abodo reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to supporting officers in remote areas with the necessary tools and resources, underscoring the importance of equitable justice delivery across the country.
