ARUA — The Deputy Chief Justice, Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, has urged criminal justice actors to strengthen record keeping, documentation, and institutional cooperation as key pillars for improving the administration of justice in Uganda.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while flagging off a two-day criminal session of the Court of Appeal sitting at Arua High Court, where 28 criminal appeals are scheduled to be heard between June 23 and 24, 2026.
Justice Kazibwe said the regional sitting reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to decentralising appellate justice and bringing it closer to the people, especially in remote areas.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen and understood by the communities it serves,” he said.
He noted that crimes and their consequences are most deeply felt within communities, stressing that the justice system must remain accessible, responsive and visible to the public it serves.
The Deputy Chief Justice observed that appellate justice has often appeared distant from victims and affected families, despite the fact that every appeal represents real human impact behind the legal process.
He said the cases before the Court of Appeal originate from districts across the West Nile sub-region, including Arua, Nebbi, Pakwach and Zombo.
The appeals involve serious offences such as murder, rape, aggravated defilement, robbery, trafficking in persons, ritual sacrifice and gender-based violence.
Justice Kazibwe strongly condemned violence against children, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, emphasising that no cultural belief, superstition or economic circumstance can justify violations of human dignity.
He also highlighted security concerns arising from the West Nile region’s proximity to neighbouring countries, noting that transnational crime requires stronger institutional coordination and cross-border cooperation.
“Criminals must never be allowed to exploit national borders as safe havens from accountability,” he said.
A central focus of his address was the persistent challenge of delayed criminal appeals caused by incomplete or poorly maintained records from trial courts.
He warned that missing exhibits, inadequate documentation, and gaps in investigation files continue to undermine the efficiency of appellate justice.
“An appellate court can only determine a case based on the record before it. The quality of justice delivered at the appellate level can never exceed the quality of the record generated at the trial level,” he said.
He urged investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers and court staff to ensure proper preservation of witness testimonies, exhibits and court proceedings to avoid delays and miscarriages of justice.
Justice Kazibwe also called on judicial officers in the region to maintain professionalism, ensure consistent court attendance and improve communication with court users, including timely notification of any disruptions to avoid unnecessary costs for litigants.
He further pledged to follow up on the operationalisation of the gazetted High Courts of Nebbi and Moyo to improve access to justice and reduce travel burdens on litigants in the region.
He also committed to engaging the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions over staffing and resource constraints affecting service delivery.
Earlier, Arua High Court Deputy Registrar Simon Toloko welcomed the Court of Appeal delegation and reiterated the importance of strengthening judicial infrastructure in the region.
Representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions cited funding and staffing gaps, while the legal fraternity, through advocate Daisy Patience Bandaru, called for a future Court of Appeal civil session to further expand access to justice in the region.