Nabweru, Wakiso– The Wakiso High Court on Monday commenced its criminal session with a pre-session meeting that brought together justice sector stakeholders, local leaders, and religious leaders at the court premises in Nabweru.
The meeting was presided over by the Head of Circuit, Lady Justice Sarah Langa Siu, ahead of the session scheduled to run until May 15, 2026.
In her remarks, Justice Langa welcomed stakeholders and underscored the importance of inclusive participation in the administration of justice. She commended the presence of religious leaders, noting that beyond traditional justice actors, faith leaders play a vital role in community engagement and supporting court processes.
She explained that the session forms part of the nationwide criminal sessions launched by the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo. Wakiso High Court is targeting to handle at least 50 cases during this period.
Justice Langa emphasized that the session will be guided by the theme of integrity, anchored on the “three Cs” — communication, cooperation, and coordination — as key pillars for effective case disposal. She applauded assessors, the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, district leaders, and members of the Bar for their continued support in the delivery of justice. She also encouraged political leaders to attend court proceedings to better understand the justice process.
The Court’s Deputy Registrar, HW Faisal Mulalira, said the session will primarily focus on clearing backlog cases from 2020 and 2021, as well as some from 2022. He added that, in response to public demand, the court will also include between five and seven newer cases already on the cause list to enhance public participation, especially where witnesses are readily available.
Mulalira expressed confidence that the session will achieve its objectives, noting that the court will maximize the available time to deliver impactful results.
He further highlighted the need for improved court infrastructure to match the growing caseload in Wakiso. He called on district local government leaders to lobby for land allocation to facilitate the construction of a permanent High Court in the district.
Speaking at the meeting, Wakiso District Vice Chairperson Bettimah Nantege pledged the district’s support and cooperation, including mobilizing the public to actively participate in the session.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Alex Bireta, urged state actors and prosecutors to embrace plea bargaining as an effective tool for reducing case backlog. He noted that both the Judiciary and the prison system are under significant strain due to the high number of pending cases, stressing the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders.
The session is set to handle a range of serious offences, with aggravated defilement accounting for 30 of the case files. Other cases include murder, aggravated robbery, among others.
