NEWS– The Deputy Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has called upon judicial officers and justices to adopt alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as plea bargaining, conciliation, mediation, negotiations and reconciliation in order to reduce the backlog of cases in their courts.
Dr Zeija made the remarks yesterday while opening a three-day criminal appeal session at Masindi High Court, where 27 appeals are scheduled to be heard and these include 14 murder cases, 9 cases of aggravated defilement and 4 cases of aggravated robbery.
Dr Zeija made it categorically clear that the use of these alternative methods will greatly ease the burden on our judicial system and help expedite justice delivery and emphasized the importance of involving legal advocates and religious leaders in the mediation process to promote reconciliation and healing within communities.
Dr Zeija was joined by Justices Christopher Gashirabake and Ketrah Kitariisibwa Katunguka, and assured the public that judgments from the session would be delivered within the stipulated timeframe, in line with efforts to enhance timely access to justice.
Masindi District Police Commander Pensive Tukasiime highlighted that many criminal cases in the district stem from land disputes and since the start of the year, Masindi has recorded 12 murder cases, all linked to land wrangles.
