The Court of Appeal has opened a two-day criminal appeals session in Fort Portal, with 30 cases lined up for hearing amid concerns over overcrowding in juvenile detention facilities and Katojo Prison.
The session, which began on Tuesday, is intended to bring appellate services closer to the public and ease the burden on appellants who would otherwise have to travel to Kampala to pursue their cases.
The cases will be heard by a three-Justice panel led by Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, alongside Justices Irene Mulyagonja and Jesse Byaruhanga.
According to the court’s cause list, the session will handle 16 murder appeals, 11 appeals involving aggravated defilement, two rape appeals and one aggravated robbery appeal. Speaking at the opening of the session, Kawumi called for greater publicity of court judgments, particularly those involving serious crimes, saying public awareness of sentences could help deter criminal conduct.
He observed that many judgments remain largely within legal circles, leaving communities where the crimes occurred unaware of the punishments handed to offenders. Kawumi urged the media to report court decisions to help communities understand the consequences of committing serious offences, including murder and defilement.
Meanwhile, Fort Portal Resident High Court Judge Vincent Emmy Mugabo raised concerns about congestion at the Fort Portal Remand Home and the distribution of juvenile cases across different High Court circuits. Mugabo said the remand home was holding 133 juveniles, comprising 126 boys and seven girls.
Of these, 11 had been committed to the High Court in Fort Portal, while nine were awaiting committal. Other juveniles were linked to courts in Mubende, Mbarara and Kasese, with some still awaiting committal. Mugabo said the court holds quarterly sessions to help reduce the number of juveniles on remand. However, he noted that the efforts require coordination with other courts because many of the children are involved in cases handled outside Fort Portal.
The Resident Judge also reported severe overcrowding in the men’s section of Katojo Prison in Fort Portal, which has a holding capacity of 317 inmates but was housing 1,766 at the time of the report. Of these, 990 were convicts, while 767 were on remand. The figures underscore the pressure on detention facilities and the need for timely handling of criminal cases-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
