Uganda registers more convicts this year - JLOS report

LAW AND ORDER

The number of people convicted of different offences in courts of law has increased this year, the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) report has revealed.

The annual performance report indicates there is an increase in the conviction rates from 45% in 2016 to 62.6% in 2019/20.

The deputy senior technical advisor Sam Wairegale, who presented the report, said the achievement has come through expeditious adjudication of cases including case backlog strategy, plea bargain, small claims, alternative dispute resolution and mobile courts.

According to the report, the three years of implementation of sector development plan IV have yielded a 6% increase in disputes resolved and a 9% reduction in people facing justice problems.

The report reveals that case management has continued to improve following the adoption of the case backlog reduction strategy, adding that it has reduced from 24% in 2016 to 18.2% in the year under review, despite the effects of Covid-19 and lockdown.

This, according to Wairegale, has reduced the number of prisoners who currently stand at 49%.

The report further indicates that crime rate has reduced from 677 in 2016 to 513 in 2019/20 due to investment in use of the technology as well as an increase in police strength.

The Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo launched the report during the 25th annual general meeting of the JLOS at Mestil Hotel in Kampala. It was organised under theme "empowering people, building trust, upholding rights."

Owiny-Dollo also implored JLOS institutions to respect the principle of separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution.

He observed that the independence of Government institutions is key if Uganda is to have free and fair elections.

Owiny-Dollo championed promoting cooperation, coordination, and communication among institutions with closely linked mandate so as they strive to ensure justice for all people.

He, however, noted that case backlog is still a challenge due to delays in the administration of justice.

"Related to case backlog, increased prison population and congestion is still persistent. The current prisons carrying capacity is 19,826 prisoners while the population at the end of the year stood at 63,851, far exceeding the actual holding capacity by 44025," he observed.

The Chief Justice said Covid-19 has highlighted the need for digital transformation in service delivery, especially with regard to citizen engagement and empowerment.

He also emphasised the need for more investment in crime intelligence and response to ensure maintenance in law and order and further reduction in crime rate.

Owiny-Dollo thanked President Museveni and the sector ministers for the efforts made to ensure that key positions have been filled. He also requested the President to appoint the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commissions.

Attorney General William Byaruhanga asked political players to abide by the laws enshrined in the Constitution to avoid violence during the Elections.

Byaruhanga revealed that the Legal Aid Bill is ready, awaiting Cabinet approval.

The Bill, which has been before Cabinet since 2012 aims to provide for easy access to free legal aid by marginalised and vulnerable groups and regulate the legal aid service providers in the country.

JLOS

The JLOS is an overview wide spread approach adopted by the Government of Uganda to bring together its ministries and institutions with closely linked mandates of administration of justice and maintaining law and order and human rights; into developing a common vision, policy framework, unified on objective and plan over the medium term.

The JLOS member institutions as at April 19, 2020 include the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Judiciary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Uganda Police Force, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Uganda Prisons Services, the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Judicial Service Commission.

The other members are Uganda Registration Services, Uganda Law Reform Commission, National Identification and Registration Authority, the Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Department, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Local Governments, Uganda Law Society, Tax Appeals Tribunal, Law Development Centre and Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.