The Principal Judge, Jane Francis Abodo, has called upon the people of Teso to consider alternative dispute resolution instead of overwhelming the courts with cases that can be addressed locally.
She made the call while addressing court users in Serere at the commissioning of the Serere Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Before the court’s commissioning, Justice Abodo visited places of detention at the police and prisons, where she observed gaps that she said need to be addressed to ensure equal justice for the community.
She emphasized the importance of harmonization, community sensitization, and better conflict resolution as vital components in the justice system.
In the police cells, Justice Abodo encountered a young woman who was incarcerated due to a domestic dispute with a neighbor.
The woman, she noted, had a nine-month-old baby who was left without her mother for breastfeeding. “I took time to interact with her, and I learned about her situation,” Abodo said.
Abodo’s visit to the juvenile cell was equally heartbreaking, as she found over ten boys aged between twelve and sixteen years old.
Upon inquiry, she learned that they were detained for allegedly beating up the organizer of a local function.
“These are young boys whose futures are being compromised due to minor conflicts,” she lamented.
“If you look closely at these cases, most of them are simple, such as assault. Can’t we settle such matters in the villages? We want to change your mindset so that not every case needs to go to court. Reconciliation is essential, especially since those involved are often neighbors who will remain in the same community. Let the elders sit down and reconcile these issues. Many conflicts arise from drunkenness, but once elders mediate, people tend to listen,” Abodo advised.
She further urged the community of Teso to revert to traditional African methods of resolving disputes. Serious matters, such as murder and defilement, should be taken to court, but simpler issues like land disputes could be managed by senior citizens who possess local knowledge. “When you bring simple cases to us, who are strangers to the land, you risk misrepresenting the facts, which can lead to judicial errors,” she explained.
Abodo cautioned against burdening the courts with trivial matters, stating, “You know yourselves in the villages, and many of you are friends. Yet, over simple issues, someone rushes to court, leading to convictions over matters that could have been resolved amicably.”
She also highlighted the role of parents in shaping the future of their children. She urged them to reflect on their parenting practices, as children from their communities often end up in trouble.
“The remand home is full, and if we continue to push everything to the courts without addressing the root causes, we are failing our children. Some are being led astray by bad company. Parents must ensure their children are not out late at night, as conflicts with the law during youth can have lifelong consequences,” Abodo warned.
The Judiciary has been working to implement the African Justice System, and the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) aims to alleviate the backlog of cases in the courts.
Currently, the Soroti High Court has over 1,000 cases pending, while the Serere Magistrate’s Court faces a backlog of more than 200 cases.
Abodo called on the police to ensure they arrest the right individuals responsible for crimes instead of indiscriminately rounding up people.
She also urged the Judiciary to build trust with the community and ensure consistency in judicial outcomes.
“There should be uniformity in sentencing. It’s disheartening when similar cases receive vastly different judgments. This inconsistency breeds fear and mistrust in the justice system,” she stated.
Gladys Macrina Nyanzi, the Assistant Regional DPP for Soroti, echoed the need for teamwork between investigation authorities and the complainants.
“The community often lacks understanding of how state prosecutors operate. We must work to educate the public,” she noted.
Nyanzi highlighted that theft, particularly of livestock, along with murder, rape, aggravated robbery, and defilement, are prevalent issues in Serere, resulting in a backlog of 77 cases.
“We face challenges when the public fails to appear in court when summoned. The community needs to recognize that courts are made up of people just like them, who speak their language and offer interpretation when necessary,” she added.
Addressing the issue of mob justice, Nyanzi warned that such acts often lead to revenge killings and additional crimes. “The public must understand that these acts do not constitute justice. Even in cases of murder, the law will pursue the aggressor for malicious assault. Seeking justice through legal means is the best course of action,” Nyanzi urged.
John Stephen Ekoom, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Serere, pointed out that many of the district’s challenges stem from domestic violence and that the issue of juvenile cases is particularly overwhelming.
“Currently, the Mbale remand home is full. We advocate for the construction of a juvenile remand home in Soroti to serve both the East and South Kyoga regions,” Ekoom stated.
The call to return to traditional ways of resolving conflicts, coupled with a focus on responsible parenting and community engagement, offers a promising pathway to alleviating the burdens on the judicial system.-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
