Delay in trying defilers irks Teso
Apr 20, 2003
TESO leaders have appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, to persuade the respective authorities to allow Grade One Magistrates to try defilement offenders.
By John Omoding
TESO leaders have appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, to persuade the respective authorities to allow Grade One Magistrates to try defilement offenders.
The appeal was made during Katumba’s four-day visit to Kumi, Katakwi, Kaberamaido and Soroti districts.
He was meeting Police officers and district leaders.
The leaders said the High Court takes between four to five years before trying defilement offenders, which has led to a backlog of cases.
The people reacted after Katumba’s revelation that defilement was still at an alarming level as indicated by crime charts in district Police headquarters.
The LC3 chairman for Kapir, Max Olupot, said many defilement cases were lost because trials took long.
“The Government seems reluctant in disposing of defilement cases quickly. Swift handling of defilement cases would encourage more culprits,†leaders said.
Katumba said they were pushing hard through Criminal Law and Reform Society to get chief magistrates to handle the cases since they are rampant in every district.
He asked the leaders to give them time to look into the issue and forward the proposal to the relevant authorities for action.
TESO leaders have appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Maj. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, to persuade the respective authorities to allow Grade One Magistrates to try defilement offenders.
The appeal was made during Katumba’s four-day visit to Kumi, Katakwi, Kaberamaido and Soroti districts.
He was meeting Police officers and district leaders.
The leaders said the High Court takes between four to five years before trying defilement offenders, which has led to a backlog of cases.
The people reacted after Katumba’s revelation that defilement was still at an alarming level as indicated by crime charts in district Police headquarters.
The LC3 chairman for Kapir, Max Olupot, said many defilement cases were lost because trials took long.
“The Government seems reluctant in disposing of defilement cases quickly. Swift handling of defilement cases would encourage more culprits,†leaders said.
Katumba said they were pushing hard through Criminal Law and Reform Society to get chief magistrates to handle the cases since they are rampant in every district.
He asked the leaders to give them time to look into the issue and forward the proposal to the relevant authorities for action.