Criminal justice actors from frontline Justice, Law and Order Sector institutions gathered at Mestil Hotel on Tuesday for a capacity building training for duty bearers on management of the upcoming special court sessions for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
The Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija, who presided over the training said that he recently issued Administrative Circular No. 03 Of 2020 On Conducting Sexual and Gender Based Violence Sessions with the objective of guiding how Phase III sessions should be conducted.
“The guidelines were informed by the previous successes and challenges, as well as challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic.”He emphasized that generating cause lists should be a joint effort with the Office Director Public Prosecutions, the Police, Prisons, and Probation officers.
The PJ added that 25 per cent of the cases cause listed should include children, women, the disabled, the old and the terminally ill inmates. In terms of facilitating witnesses, he said the Court will give transport refunds and accommodation where necessary in line with the prevailing rates of public transport in the areas participating in the sessions.
The PJ urged the Judicial Officers to adhere to the set 45 days to complete the sessions. The JLOS Senior Technical Advisor, Ms Rachel Odoi Musoke, said the sessions have demonstrated the efficacy of a focused and coordinated approach to addressing these cases that form a large proportion of the pending caseload.
“These sessions were also aimed at improving the experience of the victims with the criminal justice system, gender responsive services and the overall system efficacy.”She called for the rollout of technology and other interventions in case management.
She urged the participants to reflect on past sessions so that survivors get a complete solution to their challenges. While presenting key issues arising from the implementation of Phase II, Ms Lucy Ladira, the Criminal Justice Advisor at JLOS Secretariat called for adherence to sentencing guidelines, specialized training for actors and time-keeping.
Other areas of concern were wanting quality of evidence, proper handling of exhibits as well as management of suspects on bail. The Director of Public Prosecution, Justice Jane Frances Abodo handled Plea Bargaining in SGBV Cases.
The Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, Justice Damalie N. Lwanga shared Good Practices in Management of Criminal Sessions.Justice Dr Winfred Nyondo Nabisinde, the in-charge of SGBV cases at the Criminal Division said with support from JLOS and UNFPA, more than 1,500 cases had been disposed of in 26 courts at High Court and Magisterial level. According to end of July statistics report for Uganda Prison Services, there are 14,940 inmates on SGBV-related offences. Of these, 8,162 are convicts while 6,778 are on remand.
The training also held detailed discussions on Good Practices in Management of Criminal Sessions presented by Justice Damalie Lwanga, Good Practices in Prosecution of SGBV Cases; Challenges and Recommendations.Justice Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza held an interactive session on Good Practices in Adjudication of SGBV cases. S
he urged the participants to remember that as actors in the criminal justice system, they are supposed to ensure that there is a just outcome.To crown the training, a panel discussion was held on how to improve case management of SGBV cases.
The panel which comprised of Rose Nalubega from Uganda Police Force, Mr Byamugisha from Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory and Dr Slyvester Onzivua discussed Investigating SGBV: Issues of Case Management and Coordination, the Use of Evidence in Management of SGBV Cases as well as Medico-Legal Aspects of SGBV.
The III Phase SGBV Sessions will kick off on September 1 in the High Courts of Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Kiryandongo, Mubende, Kotido, Bundibugyo, Luwero, Iganga, and Chief Magistrates Courts of Tororo, Apac, Amuria, and Nakapiriprit.For the last three years, JLOS with support from UNFPA, has held special sessions to dispose of Sexual Based Gender Violence cases.
