JINJA– The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), in partnership with the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), held a two-day performance review meeting for Regional Officers from 2–3 December 2025 at the Nile Resort Hotel in Jinja.
The engagement brought together the ODPP’s top and senior management, alongside all Regional Officers, to reinforce professionalism, accountability, and consistency in criminal justice delivery nationwide.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Lino Anguzu, thanked IDLO for its continued support to prosecutorial capacity building and commended Regional Officers for their supervisory efforts across the country. He reminded them of their mandate to ensure fair, transparent, and effective prosecutorial services, noting that the meeting served as a key accountability platform to assess compliance with the Performance Guidelines for Regional Officers and identify areas requiring improvement. He further encouraged active participation in District Coordination Committees, Court Users’ meetings and open days to strengthen coordinated and responsive justice delivery.
Mr. John Baptist Asiimwe, the Deputy DPP in charge of Field Affairs and Quality Assurance, outlined the objectives of the review, including assessing performance in criminal case management, identifying operational challenges and skills gaps, strengthening collaboration, and informing policy direction. He noted that the ODPP is composed of a Head Office, 19 Regional Offices and 129 field offices, staffed by a total of 382 prosecutors of different ranks.
Representing IDLO, Mr. Samson Asiimwe reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the ODPP through performance reviews, ODPP barazas, mentorship programmes and the provision of updated laws of Uganda.
During the meeting, Regional Officers presented individual performance reports, which were followed by constructive discussions and the identification of priority actions. The DPP underscored the need to clear case backlog, uphold public trust and maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, particularly in charge sanctioning, bail processes and case termination. He also urged effective management of electoral offences and stronger mentorship of junior staff.
Participants also received presentations on the ODPP’s new Strategic Plan, Service Delivery Standards and Client Charter, all aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery. The ODPP’s 19 Regional Offices, established in 2014, were highlighted as key to streamlining operations, expediting case handling and strengthening supervision of Resident State Attorney and Resident State Prosecutor offices across the country.
At the close of the meeting, Mr. Anguzu held a bilateral engagement with the IDLO Country Manager, Ms. Barbara Kilei, during which he expressed appreciation for IDLO’s longstanding partnership and its support to the performance review process. He highlighted ODPP barazas, supported by IDLO, as an important tool for building public trust and enhancing access to justice at the community level.
Mr. Anguzu reiterated his priorities of reducing case backlog, easing prison congestion and strengthening prosecutorial training to improve decision-making. He also stressed the need for a robust IT system to enhance efficiency and identified improved witness management as another critical area for reform.
Ms. Kilei reaffirmed IDLO’s commitment to continued collaboration with the ODPP, emphasizing the importance of strong monitoring and evaluation systems to track performance and measure impact. The meeting was also attended by Deputy DPPs Mr. Odumbi James Owere and Mr. John Baptist Asiimwe, the ODPP-IDLO Focal Point Ms. Margaret Nakigudde, and Mr. Samson Asiimwe, IDLO Project Manager, among other senior officials.
