Lawmakers in Uganda are sounding the alarm over the Judiciary’s slow pace in delivering justice. The criticism comes after a review of cases revealed that some inmates have been waiting for up to 28 years for their cases to be resolved.
Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa led the charge, questioning how the Judiciary can receive full funding for case handling yet continue to post low case disposal rates.
The concerns were raised during a meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on February 26, 2025, which examined concerns raised in the 2024 Auditor General’s report. Basalirwa highlighted the case of inmates at Luzira Prison, where some have been on remand for over 28 years. He also raised concerns about discrimination against Muslim suspects at the International Crimes Division, noting that many have been on remand for over 10 years.
Key Statistics:
- 781 cases (89%) were concluded within the required 24 months in 2024.
- 97 cases (11%) took between two and 14 years to resolve.
- 706 cases (79%) were resolved within 12 months in 2024.
- 183 cases (21%) took between one and 22 years to conclude.
PAC Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi also expressed concerns over the prison population, revealing that 40,000 inmates were convicts, while 38,222 were on remand. The Judiciary has acknowledged the backlog of cases, but assures that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are yielding progress.
