News
Trained community mediators in Lira begin work to ease case backlog
ADR mediators will go a long way in reducing the case backlog in courts.
Community mediators pose for a group photo with the Guest of Honour and other stakeholders following the pass-out ceremony at St. Lira Hotel. (Photo by Joseph Ekol)
By: Joseph Ekol, Journalist @New Vision
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A group of at least 20 community mediators in Lira have been commissioned to help resolve disputes out of court through alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The individuals drawn from different fields of expertise underwent a rigorous one-month ADR training conducted by Reconciliation Trust International.
They were introduced to mini trials, settlement conference, conciliation and reunion, mediation, neutral fact finding and evaluation, reconciliation guidance and arbitration as well as co-existence and compromise.
At the commissioning ceremony at St Lira Hotel last Friday, Lira Senior Principal Magistrate Jane Tibagonzeka said the ADR mediators will go a long way in reducing the case backlog in courts.
Representing Lira Chief Magistrate Joe Fay Adoko, Tibagonzeka said the case backlog has been increasing, with especially relationships among couples getting ruined.
“When we embrace the ADR, it will help resolve cases in a quicker manner than sitting in court for years," she said.
Tibagonzeka challenged the mediators to take up the assignment with integrity and utmost commitment to their roles, and be mindful of the privacy of the clients that will seek their services.
“The Judiciary has trained mediators but they are not enough; for example, at Lira Magistrate Court, we have one accredited mediator and are overwhelmed.
"I urge you to make the opportunities available to you by going to the police, prisons, courts, DPP to execute your assignments because you are the ambassadors
we have been blessed with in Lango.
"Please preach the gospel of ADR to our societies,” urged the Senior Principal Magistrate.
Dr Harry Mwebasa, the director Reconciliation Trust International, said the commissioned ADRs have joined the list of over 1,000 ADR mediators, including the resident district commissioners.
He was keen to warn the new cohort to never reconcile capital offenses including rape, defilement and murder, as those are handled by plea bargain.
City Hall Court in Kampala was in 2025 named as the best performing court in terms of closing cases in the entire Judiciary as many cases were resolved through out-of-court mediation.
Superintendent of Prisons Brenda Fassie Abaasa, the in-charge of Lira Main Prison, represented the regional Prisons Commander Ronald Kale at the ceremony.
“It is impossible to not conflict, but what happens after conflict? Are we able to reconcile and again stay in harmony? I want to thank the sponsor and the stakeholders who made sure the training was a success because in Lango, this is something we need very badly,” she said.
She said the congestion rate in prisons is very high and that if disagreements are harmonized from the community, it will not only help keep the numbers in prisons down but also ease the burden on courts.
Abaasa urged the ADR mediators to be ambassadors of peace and do their work with integrity, and respect the community and the people they stay with.
Rev. Dr Francis Nyang, who coordinated the first cohort of the training, said the participants were drawn from different fields of expertise, including engineers, medics, and social scientists.
During the training, they went to prisons and managed to handle around 430 suspects. Most of the prisoners sought plea bargain. With this in mind, Nyang requested the courts organise plea bargain camps.
He said the community mediators will also help in restoring broken relationships.
“In the communities, we have divorce or family breakdowns, business and contract disputes, and as meditators, we aim at reconciling the parties who are in disputes and more especially restore relationships and coexistence,” said Nyang.
we have been blessed with in Lango.
"Please preach the gospel of ADR to our societies,” urged the Senior Principal Magistrate.
Dr Harry Mwebasa, the director Reconciliation Trust International, said the commissioned ADRs have joined the list of over 1,000 ADR mediators, including the resident district commissioners.
He was keen to warn the new cohort to never reconcile capital offenses including rape, defilement and murder, as those are handled by plea bargain.
City Hall Court in Kampala was in 2025 named as the best performing court in terms of closing cases in the entire Judiciary as many cases were resolved through out-of-court mediation.
Superintendent of Prisons Brenda Fassie Abaasa, the in-charge of Lira Main Prison, represented the regional Prisons Commander Ronald Kale at the ceremony.
“It is impossible to not conflict, but what happens after conflict? Are we able to reconcile and again stay in harmony? I want to thank the sponsor and the stakeholders who made sure the training was a success because in Lango, this is something we need very badly,” she said.
She said the congestion rate in prisons is very high and that if disagreements are harmonized from the community, it will not only help keep the numbers in prisons down but also ease the burden on courts.
Abaasa urged the ADR mediators to be ambassadors of peace and do their work with integrity, and respect the community and the people they stay with.
Rev. Dr Francis Nyang, who coordinated the first cohort of the training, said the participants were drawn from different fields of expertise, including engineers, medics, and social scientists.
During the training, they went to prisons and managed to handle around 430 suspects. Most of the prisoners sought plea bargain. With this in mind, Nyang requested the courts organise plea bargain camps.
He said the community mediators will also help in restoring broken relationships.
“In the communities, we have divorce or family breakdowns, business and contract disputes, and as meditators, we aim at reconciling the parties who are in disputes and more especially restore relationships and coexistence,” said Nyang.