Judge raises concern over increased cases of mob justice in Mukono
Justice David Matovu, the resident judge of Mukono has raised concern over the growing number of mob justice cases in the greater Mukono area .
He said a number of those killed are innocent.
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This was stated during the Mukono district High Court offices' open day for the districts of Kayunga, Buikwe, Buvuma, and Mukono, which was honored by Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera.
"They kill innocent people without evidence but just because they are tired of the other, and we jail them for 30 and 40 years to deter others from committing the same offence. I must thank my colleagues from the office of the director of public prosecution for bringing them in large numbers ," stated Justice Matovu.
Because of the big number of people at court, Justice Matovu added, there are a lot of conmen whom he said fleece the public.
“We are working around the clock to get them."
Amidst challenges of underfunding and shortage of workers in the office of the DPP in Mukono, Akello Florence the deputy director public prosecution for Mukono revealed that they have managed to commit a total of 1000 cases to the High court pending trial.
Akello noted that in magistrates courts in greater Mukono, they are faced with a backlog of over 2600 cases, saying such challenges have affected the pace and quality of the judicial process.
She also highlighted the financial constraints limiting police to sermon witnesses which delays hearing at all judicial levels.
Residents , complained about cases being delayed in these courts, noting that they pay a lot of money for transport to and from courts of law.
Besi Musubika from Lugazi expressed dismay at the way courts drag out cases, pointing out that court staff prevent people from pursuing justice.
"I am approaching 70 years, but I have moved for 20 years in court, and I have not yet received justice,"
She claimed that the court clerks would prevent her from seeing the judge and would inform her that her file was missing each time she went to check on the status of her case.
In order to clear the court backlog, the deputy Chief Justice, Justice Buteera backed the pre-bargaining to solve case backlog.
He also noted that a High Court circuit has been created in Lugazi.
"We have created a circuit in Lugazi to help reduce case backlog in Greater Mukono.Judges will be increased from 13 to 36."
He asked that the magistrate’s courts' jurisdiction be widened in order to relieve pressure on the High Court.
