Courts to be opened in remote areas

Uganda plans to establish courts in remote and hard-to-reach areas such as islands, aiming to improve access to justice and bring services closer to local populations, Deputy Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has announced. Speaking at the launch of the new Entebbe High Court, Zeija emphasised the challenges residents of island communities face in accessing legal services, reports the Daily Monitor. ‘We need a special programme for the islands. Some islands near the border with Tanzania are currently under Kalangala’s jurisdiction, but to reach Kalangala, residents must first pass through Tanzanian waters, which are dangerous,’ said Zeija. He stressed the need to make judicial services more accessible. ‘In the future, people in Bussi Island should not have to travel unless appealing. We want convenient access to courts at all levels, with excellence and efficiency at the core.’ The opening of the Entebbe High Court marks a milestone in the judiciary’s efforts to decentralise services. The court, inaugurated last week, has already begun handling a high volume of cases. Lady Justice Flavia Nabakooza, the resident judge, reported that since opening, the court has registered 1 490 cases, with about 10 new cases arriving daily. Zeija also said Uganda has 190 High Court judges, exceeding the approved structure of 150, and 20 Justices of Appeal out of a total of 35 planned.