Lira new judge to try 50 criminal cases from next week

May 20, 2018

Justice Ajiiji is to try 22 cases of murder, 17 cases of aggravated defilement, 7 cases of aggravated robbery and 4 cases of rape.

PIC: Helen Acham shying away from the camera. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

JUSTICE


LIRA- Murder dominates the scheduled criminal session of the high court in Lira that starts on Tuesday by the newly-posted judge, Justice Alex M. Ajiiji.

Justice Ajiiji was posted to Lira as the resident judge to replace lady justice Winfred Nabisinde, who was transferred to Masaka as a judge. 

In his maiden trial, Justice Ajiiji is to try 22 cases of murder, 17 cases of aggravated defilement, 7 cases of aggravated robbery and 4 cases of rape. 

Prominent on the list of murder is the case of Helen Achan Ongora, 39, implicated in the August 4, 2016 attack and subsequent death of Denis Ongora alias Agedi (a butcher) two weeks later at Mulago. 

Ongora was allegedly attacked by his wife Helen Acam Ongora and five others at his home in Akitenino village, Lira Municipality and robbed him of sh9m. 

Acham is being tried together with Daniel Omara, 19, Douglas Omach, 20, Muzamil Ogwal, 38, Charles Oringa, 49, and Morris Ongom, 32

Murder is very common in the districts of Lango (Lira, Apac, Amolatar, Otuke, Alebtong, Oyam, Kole, and Dokolo) with mostly women being accused of killing their husbands.

In January, the High Court sitting in Lira heard 60 criminal cases under plea Bargain system where 30 were cases of murder with 10 of them committed solely by women.

Prominent cases include the murder of a businessman Alex Epet on December 20, 2016 at Central Park Village, Ojwina Division in Lira Municipal Council where his son Isaac Okello and wife Jasinta Awino were implicated. The body was recovered in a septic tank after two days. Awino pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

In Apac, the last criminal session of the High Court which opened last month heard 45 cases which includes  31 cases of murder, seven cases of a defilement,  four aggravated robbery and  rape cases.

Another prominent case is that of Solomon Egwea with two cases of murder and aggravated robbery.

 

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