Public prosecutors told to observe impartiality

By Francis Emorut                                                

Public prosecutors in the country have been advised to exercise impartiality while prosecuting cases of criminal nature and ensure suspects receive justice.

The call was made by commissioner of legal services and board affairs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Patience Tumusiime.

"Aspect of presumption of innocence until proved guilty as well as impartiality should be promoted," Tumusiime stated.

The commissioner was speaking during the opening of prosecutors symposium organized by URA at Kabira Country Club in Kampala on Wednesday.

The symposium drew participants from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the authority's legal officers.

Tumusiime observed that in order to promote good prosecution, prosecutors need to comply with respect of human rights and desist from abusing the rights of suspects/accused persons.

She emphasized prosecutors from different agencies to have joint efforts in curbing cyber-crime and fraud among other criminal offences.

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Public prosecutors and URA officials after the opening of the symposium for prosecutors at Kabira Club in Kampala

The commissioner was backed by the acting principal assistant director of DPP, Betty Kihisa who noted that her office is mandated by the Constitution in prosecuting cases to have regard for public interest of administration of justice and the need to prevent abuse of the legal process in exercising her powers.

She pointed out that the DPP is not subjected to control or direction of any person or authority.  
Kihisa implored public prosecutors to take into account that the decision to prosecute is of great concern in all cases and should be exercised judiciously because it greatly impacts on an individual's rights and welfare of members of his/her family.

Citing if the suspect is a civil servant, the person is interdicted and this creates stigma.

"In the eyes of general public, a criminal charge places stigma on the person of the suspect who view him as a criminal," Kihisa said.

She emphasized that on the other hand respect for the rights of suspect should be balanced with the need to protect the victims of crime and society from perpetrators of crime.

She informed participants that the DPP's office has intensified in involving her officers alongside Police to investigate complex criminal cases which have resulted into successful prosecution of cases as evidence is gathered at forehand.

The acting principal assistant enumerated complex criminal cases such as fraud, money laundering, terrorism, international and cross border crimes, drug trafficking and trafficking of persons and wildlife and forests products and cyber-crimes.

"Such involvement from the outset has proved quite helpful because right from the beginning vital evidence is retrieved and investigators are guided on which evidence is critical for the successful prosecution of the case," she said.