Court of Appeal takes session to Fort Portal

Nov 11, 2020

The cause list consists of 20 appeals against the conviction on charges of aggravated defilement

Three justices of the Court of Appeal have camped in Fort Portal, Kabarole district, to clear 40 appeals as one of the new mechanisms to take justice closer to the people despite threats from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justices Kenneth Kakuru, Christopher Madrama and Irene Mulyagonja, will on Monday commenced hearing the appeals before returning to Kampala to write judgments.

Aggravated defilement and murder cases top the list of the cases being appealed, according to the cause list the deputy registrar, Ayebare Tumwebaze, issued Sunday.

The cause list consists of 20 appeals against the conviction on charges of aggravated defilement while 15 appellants want the court to quash murder convictions.

Other appeals to be handled include four on aggravated robbery and one on rape, where the convicts want the court to set aside their sentences.

The oldest appeal was filed in 2008, in which three appellants want court to overturn a life sentence for the offence of murder.

Tumwebaze said the session will be held in conformity to the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined by the Judiciary and the health ministry to check the spread COVID-19.

"Because of COVID-19, it is only the judges and lawyers that will be physically present at the High Court in Fort Portal. The appellants will remain in prison, but will participate via the video conferencing technology," Tumwebaze said.

Ayebare said the justices are ready to dispose of the 40 appeals and to deliver their judgments within 30 days after.

Asked how the appellants will give instructions to their lawyers without violation of the rights to privacy, Tumwebaze revealed that arrangements had already been made for the attorneys to prepare their clients on how to participate in the scientific court session.

Third session

This will be the third external session to be conducted scientifically by the Court of Appeal since resuming business after the COVID-19 lockdown in June.

The first one was conducted in Mbarara City and the second in Mbale City.

"It is hoped that before the year closes, another external session for northern region will be conducted in Lira. If everything goes according to plan, the court hopes to close the year with a disposal of at least 1,500 cases, about 700 of which will be criminal matters," Tumwebaze said.

A glance at the court's returns through the court case administration system shows that by close of October, court had completed 1,293 cases. Of these, 151 are constitutional petitions, 627 criminal matters, 13 election petitions and 502 civil matters.

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