Police and prosecution officials in Old Kampala have pledged to strengthen coordination to address persistent challenges of missing case files, delayed investigations and slow prosecution of criminal cases.
The commitment was made during a meeting between the Old Kampala Division Police Commander, SP Kenneth Massette, and officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), led by the Regional Director of Public Prosecutions for Mwanga Court Mengo.
The meeting focused on improving cooperation between investigators and prosecutors to ensure timely delivery of justice.
Deputy Regional Criminal Investigations Officer for Kawempe, Fred Muhanguzi, said some criminal cases require extensive and specialised investigations, making close collaboration between police, prosecutors and other government agencies essential.
"Some cases require deep and extensive investigations. Effective cooperation among police, prosecutors and other relevant institutions is essential if we are to build strong cases and deliver justice without unnecessary delays," Muhanguzi said.
Resident State Attorney Caroline Mpumwire of Mwanga II Court said the quality and speed of prosecutions largely depend on the quality of police investigations.
She identified missing police files, inadequate facilitation and delays in obtaining forensic reports as major obstacles to timely justice.
"Our work depends on the quality of police investigations. Missing files, poor facilitation and delayed forensic reports continue to slow the justice process, yet such delays are rarely seen in high-profile cases," Mpumwire said.
Old Kampala Division Police Commander SP Kenneth Massette said the meeting was intended to identify practical solutions to recurring challenges affecting the criminal justice system.
He expressed optimism that quarterly coordination meetings between police and prosecutors would help reduce missing case files, improve case management and accelerate the handling of criminal matters.
The officials resolved to strengthen information sharing and maintain regular engagements to improve investigations, prosecutions and public confidence in the criminal justice system.
