Principal Judge Jan Francese Abodo has inspected three court stations in Jinja and Buikwe, where judicial officers cited staffing shortages, inadequate facilities and digital case-management challenges affecting justice delivery.
Jinja High Court has reported a backlog of approximately 1,000 cases, including more than 500 criminal matters, as the Judiciary’s leadership assesses challenges affecting the administration of justice at court stations in Jinja and Buikwe districts.
The backlog was among the concerns raised during inspections by Principal Judge Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo at Jinja High Court, Njeru Magistrates Court and Katende Magistrates Court.
The visits provided an opportunity for judicial officers and support staff to raise concerns about case disposal, staffing shortages, inadequate infrastructure, staff welfare and the implementation of digital court processes.
At Jinja High Court, Justice Lawrence Gidudu called for a dedicated criminal sessions plan to accelerate the disposal of cases and ease congestion in prisons.
He also raised concerns about difficulties in verifying powers of attorney reportedly notarised abroad, including in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Justice Gidudu said the court lacked the capacity to establish the authenticity of some of the documents, which may be presented in proceedings involving transactions or legal interests originating outside Uganda.
He further questioned the credibility of some recruited mediators and raised concerns about disparities in sentences imposed for similar offences.
According to Justice Gidudu, inmates serving sentences in the same prison often compare their punishments, raising questions about consistency in sentencing.
The court also highlighted the difficulties convicted persons without legal representation face in pursuing appeals, potentially limiting their ability to challenge convictions or sentences.
On infrastructure, staff requested additional space for Jinja High Court and the Chief Magistrates Court, which share premises. They also called for the completion of a generator installation to provide backup electricity during outages.
Justice Gidudu thanked Justice Abodo for the visit and commended the Jinja Chief Magistrate and Acting Assistant Registrar, Her Worship Fiona Sheila Angura, for improvements in registry management.
At Njeru Magistrates Court in Buikwe District, Magistrates Her Worship Egessa Wilberforce Masaaka and Her Worship Kibeedi Peace said the inspection gave the Judiciary’s leadership an opportunity to appreciate the conditions under which court staff work.
Egessa cited limited chambers and registry space, inadequate shelving and storage for court files and exhibits, and shortages of essential equipment.
She requested air conditioning, desktop computers, additional staff and transport support to facilitate court operations. She added that staff transfers had increased the workload of those remaining.
She also emphasised the need for staff motivation, regular feedback and continued field visits by Judiciary management to improve working conditions and performance.
At Katende Magistrates Court in Jinja District, Magistrates Her Worship Zako Dorcas and Her Worship Kintu Christine welcomed the inspection, describing it as a source of motivation and a demonstration of management’s concern for staff welfare.
Zako highlighted staffing gaps that have forced process servers to take on additional administrative duties. She said a clerk serving multiple courts was available only two to three days a week, while a police prosecutor attended court twice a week.
Court staff also requested additional furniture for judicial officers and court users, as well as storage equipment for files.
They called for more training for court staff and public sensitisation on the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
The magistrates said some court users, particularly those from rural communities, struggled to understand the digital processes and, in some cases, failed to return to court.
They also requested uniforms for process servers, explaining that the absence of standard attire or clear identification made it difficult for members of the public to recognise them as court officials.
Throughout the inspections, Justice Abodo recognised the contribution of registry and support staff, emphasising that efficient registry operations are essential to the smooth administration of justice.
She thanked the teams for their resilience and commitment despite operational constraints and assured them that the Judiciary would continue working to address the administrative, logistical, staffing and welfare concerns raised.
The visits offered judicial officers and support staff a direct opportunity to engage the Principal Judge on the challenges affecting court operations and the interventions needed to improve access to justice.