The Mbarara High Court on Thursday hosted a stakeholders’ meeting with a team from the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) to identify priority justice needs under the Second Phase of the Community Justice Programme (CJPII).
The meeting brought together key justice actors including Judicial Officers and representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Police Force, the Uganda Law Society Legal Aid Project, and the District Probation Office to discuss interventions aimed at strengthening justice delivery within the Mbarara High Court Circuit.
Welcoming participants, Deputy Registrar of the court, Grace Atwongyeire, expressed appreciation to IDLO for selecting Mbarara as one of the model circuits for implementation of the programme. She highlighted the progress made since the Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence held in August 2025, noting improvements in the disposal of cases related to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as matters involving juveniles and refugees.
“At the moment, we still have 514 SGBV cases pending before the High Court, with many more before the lower courts across the circuit,” she said, adding that the court remains committed to ensuring effective service delivery that responds to the needs of justice seekers.
Atwongeyire welcomed the programme and reaffirmed the court’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen access to justice in the region.
The Head of the Mbarara High Court Circuit, Allan Nshimye, commended IDLO for its continued partnership with the Judiciary and outlined several priority areas requiring support under the programme. These include capacity building for justice actors, enhanced support services for victims of SGBV, funding for special court sessions, and further digitalisation of court processes.
Representing IDLO, Programme Manager Samson Asiimwe, thanked the court leadership and justice actors for their commitment to improving access to justice. He explained that CJPII, funded by the Government of Sweden, was recently launched to enhance access to justice for rural, vulnerable and marginalised communities across Uganda.
He noted that the Mbarara and Mbale High Court Circuits had been selected as model circuits for the programme’s implementation.
The initiative focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, expanding legal aid services, promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution, improving access to justice for women, children and refugees, enhancing coordination among justice sector actors, promoting transparency and accountability, and empowering communities.
During plenary discussions, stakeholders identified several justice needs within the circuit. These included training in case management, expanded public awareness and sensitisation programmes, funding for targeted court sessions, construction of a remand home in Mbarara, support services for victims of SGBV, and community reintegration programmes for offenders.
The meeting concluded with a resolution to develop a detailed action plan outlining proposed interventions for consideration under the programme.
Among those in attendance were Resident Judge Gelase Kwemara Kafuuzi; Regional Officer ODPP Mbarara Martin Rukundo; IDLO Programme Coordinator Jennipher Achalio; Officer in Charge of Kakiika Prison representing the Regional Prisons Commander Samson Hasakye; Deputy Regional Police Commander Patrick Byaruhanga; Regional CID Collins Karugaba; representative of the Uganda Law Society Legal Aid Project Mbarara Nicholas Kibulilani; and Magistrate Grade I Research Joshua Mukuru.
The meeting was moderated by Deputy Registrar Grace Atwongyeire.
