Justice sector institutions operating within the Mpigi High Court Circuit have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination and collaboration in the administration of justice following a Regional Coordination Committee (RCC) meeting convened by the High Court.
The meeting, held yesterday at Mpigi High Court, brought together representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, the Office of the Administrator General, judicial officers, mediators, Community Service Officers, officials from the Ministry of Lands, Probation Officers, members of the Bar, and other stakeholders in the justice sector.
The engagement focused on enhancing cooperation among institutions that make up the justice chain, improving preparedness for forthcoming court sessions, and addressing operational challenges affecting justice delivery within the Circuit.
Opening the meeting, the Head of the Mpigi High Court Circuit, Justice Anthony Oyuko Ojok, commended stakeholders for their continued commitment to improving access to justice and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration among justice institutions.
"Effective collaboration remains critical to the efficient administration of justice, and RCC meetings provide an important platform for strengthening coordination among all institutions within the justice chain," he said.
Justice Oyuko informed members that one High Court session had recently been successfully concluded and that preparations were underway for two additional sessions expected to commence soon.
He noted that cause lists had already been circulated to stakeholders to facilitate adequate preparation and ensure the smooth conduct of proceedings.
Justice Oyuko also highlighted the Court’s continued efforts to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a mechanism for expanding access to justice and reducing case backlog.
While an ADR Registry has already been established at the Court, he noted that operations remain constrained by infrastructure challenges, particularly the absence of a tent for conducting ADR proceedings.
Despite the challenges, he expressed optimism that the necessary support would be secured to strengthen ADR operations and praised judicial officers and court staff for maintaining punctuality and ensuring that court sessions begin as scheduled.
Resident Judge Lady Justice Deepa Verma underscored the importance of the RCC framework in fostering effective coordination among justice actors and ensuring that institutions work together toward a common goal of efficient justice delivery.
"The absence of any stakeholder weakens the justice delivery system. Every institution has a vital role to play, and challenges are best addressed through collective action and continued collaboration," she said.
Justice Verma noted that the meeting marked the first RCC engagement coordinated under the stewardship of the Deputy Registrar.
Preparations for the forthcoming criminal sessions also featured prominently during the meeting.
The Regional Director of Public Prosecutions informed members that 47 files had been retrieved and prepared for each presiding judge, while efforts to secure witnesses were already underway to support the expeditious hearing and disposal of cases.
Stakeholders also received an update from the Office of the Administrator General on ongoing efforts to improve service delivery in succession matters.
A representative of the office revealed that work was underway to develop a digital Certificate of No Objection (CONO) system aimed at reducing fraud and enhancing efficiency.
The official noted that the Mpigi Circuit handles one of the highest volumes of succession-related cases in the country and reminded stakeholders about restrictions governing the administration of estates dating back to 1967.
The representative further cautioned against fraudulent practices in succession matters, including the forgery of wills and misrepresentation of facts relating to deaths, calling for vigilance among all actors involved in the administration of estates.
The RCC meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthen institutional cooperation, improve preparedness for upcoming court sessions, and support initiatives aimed at enhancing access to justice across the Mpigi High Court Circuit.