The four-day annual prosecutors' symposium kicks off today, April 22, 2024, at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

The development means that the hearing of criminal cases is temporarily suspended. 

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo announced that there will be no hearing of criminal cases because prosecutors will be taking part in the symposium.

The symposium is marked under the theme: Strengthening Capacity for Prosecution to Counter Organised and Emerging Crimes.

She said the symposium will bring together all prosecutors in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, agencies with prosecutorial mandates such as the Inspectorate of Government, and those from agencies with delegated prosecutorial mandates.

“We are dealing with crime that is changing every second and it is, therefore, good for us to come together and reflect on how we are faring. How do we efficiently and effectively prosecute the crimes? How do we influence the sentencing so that a clear message is sent out that terrorism and other organised crimes have no place in Uganda,” Abodo said.

In attendance are staff of the Justice Law and Order Sector, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Children's Fund, Human Trafficking Institute and Redeem International.

ODPP

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is established under Article 120 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. It is charged with the duty of instituting criminal proceedings in all Courts with competent jurisdiction except the court martial.