Mobile Court Resolves 145 Cases in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Justice has been brought closer to refugees and vulnerable communities in Kiryandongo thanks to a recent mobile court initiative. Over one week, 145 cases were addressed through hearings and plea bargaining, significantly reducing barriers to accessing legal services.

The program, organized by the Refugee Law Project with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, aimed to overcome the financial and logistical challenges refugees face in reaching the main court.

Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu, who oversaw the exercise, emphasized the importance of timely case resolution and increased use of plea bargaining to tackle case backlogs. “It is important for every person in Uganda to access justice,” Anguzu stated, highlighting the role of timely justice in promoting peace and development.

During the session, plea bargaining led to convictions in notable cases. Bosco Wadi received an 18-month sentence for defilement involving a minor, and Alex Rwamita was sentenced to 12 months for manslaughter following a domestic dispute.

Anguzu pledged continued support from his office and proposed increasing annual plea-bargaining sessions in the settlement from two to four to further reduce the backlog. He also acknowledged the need to address the shortage of prosecutors in the Kiryandongo area and improve facilities.

The Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, home to approximately 170,000 refugees from 15 countries, introduced the mobile court due to dwindling resources that made transporting individuals to the main court difficult. This initiative directly addresses the practical difficulties faced by refugees in seeking justice.

Source: Nile Post