Special court session to handle 50 SGBV cases in Kalangala

KALANGALA - For the next 30 days, a special High Court session will hear 50 cases involving sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) at Kalangala Magistrate Court in the island district of Kalangala.

SGBV is violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender.
Justice Allan Nshimye of Mbarara will lead the hearings.

During a pre-session meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday (October 7), he urged them to disseminate information about this special session so that witnesses show up.

Out of the 50 cases, 46 involve defilement, committed since 2020. 

Nshimye said that contrary to claims, the court does not solicit funds from individuals to expedite their cases.

“In many circumstances, after releasing [accused people] due to absence of clear evidence, community members taint a bad image that they have paid courts to bury their cases,” he said, adding that that is not the reality.

“Inform us about these conmen. It is your responsibility as stakeholders to inform our people about these vices."

Roy Kalungi, the deputy registrar of court in Greater Masaka region, said that such special court sessions are organised to bring justice nearer to communities where the crimes were committed. 

Judge Glory Alleluya, the Chief Magistrate of Kalangala, said one of the challenges to justice across the islands is the lack of a stable transport network, which hampers the transportation of witnesses to court. 

Of the 50 accused, 47 have been presented before the judge, one is admitted at Murchison Bay Hospital, while two died, according to SP Simon Peter Alunyu, the in-charge of Masaka Main Prison.