NEBBI — Nebbi District leaders have intensified their campaign for the establishment of a High Court circuit, offering one acre of land and urging the Judiciary to bring justice services closer to residents who currently travel more than 100 kilometres to access the High Court in Arua.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during the Chief Magistrate's Court Open Day attended by Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo under the theme, "Justice that Serves, Justice that Listens."
Local leaders said the absence of a High Court circuit has forced residents, including suspects and litigants, to spend large sums of money on transport and accommodation whenever they are required to attend court sessions in Arua.
The proposed site for the High Court is a one-acre plot in Booma Cell, Central Division, Nebbi Municipality, adjacent to the Chief Magistrate's Court.
"We are not starting from zero," Nebbi Resident District Commissioner Robert Abak told Lady Justice Abodo, noting that the land has already been secured and approved for public use.
Abak said the long distance to Arua remains a major obstacle to justice, particularly for poor families.
"Distance is denying poor families justice. From Dei Sub-county in Panyimur, a poor person has to travel over 100 kilometres to Arua City and spend more than Shs100,000 just to attend one court mention. In Alangi Sub-county in Zombo District, one spends about Shs60,000 on transport to Arua High Court. Some miss hearings because they have no money," Abak said.
"But the land in Nebbi is ready. If you give us the circuit, justice will be at their doorstep, not 100 kilometres away."
Nebbi District Chairperson George Othuba said distance was only one of several challenges facing court users in the region. He also cited case backlog and language barriers as major concerns.
According to Othuba, many litigants from Greater Nebbi speak Alur and struggle to effectively communicate during proceedings conducted away from their communities.
"When they reach Arua, they face another wall — Lugbarati. Our people in Greater Nebbi speak Alur. They cannot explain their cases clearly through interpreters. Justice loses meaning in translation," he said.
"But the one acre in Nebbi is ready. Give us the High Court circuit and our people will access justice closer to home."
Statistics from the Judiciary Census Report 2025 indicate that 167,353 cases remain pending across the country. Of these, 70,006 are before the High Court while 64,937 are before Chief Magistrates' Courts.
The report also shows that the Northern Region has 3,915 backlog cases, with a significant proportion linked to matters handled by the High Court in Arua. At least 72 per cent of pending cases are less than two years old, while 2,327 cases have remained unresolved for more than a decade.
Legal practitioners in the region argue that a High Court circuit in Nebbi would not only improve access to justice but also stimulate economic activity.
Advocate Shepherd Oyirwoth said litigants currently incur substantial costs transporting lawyers, witnesses and other parties to Arua.
"A lot of money is spent on paying lawyers and facilitating witnesses. If that money remains here, there will definitely be a positive economic impact and employment opportunities for people in the area," Oyirwoth said.
He added that a High Court circuit would provide residents with direct access to justice for serious criminal and civil matters without having to travel outside the district.
"Whether it is treason, murder or civil cases involving billions of shillings, they would be handled here. We would no longer be limited by jurisdictional constraints," he said.
Residents noted that the last High Court session held in Nebbi took place in 2023, and since then many people have been waiting for the return of regular High Court services.
Responding to the concerns, Lady Justice Abodo said the Judiciary is reviewing the distribution of existing High Court circuits before operationalising new ones.
"We realised that when some circuits were opened, mistakes were made in determining their areas of coverage. We first want to align that process, but Nebbi is among the places under consideration," she said.
"The good thing is that you already have land, and I want to thank the leadership for that."
She added that court operations could initially share facilities with the Chief Magistrate's Court before construction of a permanent High Court building.
"Before we start building, we can share with the Chief Magistrate. The good thing is that we usually appoint Chief Magistrates to act as deputy registrars, so you already have a structure in place. Nebbi High Court is coming," she said.
Her remarks were welcomed by district leaders and residents, who said they hope the Judiciary will move quickly to establish the circuit and reduce the burden faced by court users across Greater Nebbi and neighbouring districts.
