By Aggrey Baba
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has been directed by Parliament to immediately transfer all case files from the General Court Martial to civilian courts.
This directive came recently, during a meeting between Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and ODPP officials, including Accounting Officer Agnes Kainza Nzogi. The discussion primarily centered on the financial year 2023/24 audit report, with PAC Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi expressing concerns about individuals remanded to the court martial, especially in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court’s judgment prohibits the court martial from trying civilians, a decision that has prompted Parliament to call for the swift transfer of these cases to the appropriate civilian courts.
Kivumbi questioned the ODPP representatives on the number of cases involved, emphasizing that while attention has been given to the National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters, the Karimojong warriors and other individuals, including those not affiliated with opposition parties, also deserve clarity on their legal status.
In response, Deputy DPP George William Byansi confirmed that some case files had been received, though he was unable to provide an immediate figure.
Kivumbi demanded that Byansi cross-check the records and report back before the end of the day. “We need to know how many cases are involved,” Kivumbi said, urging the ODPP to provide detailed information.
The discussion also raised concerns about the overall performance of the ODPP. MPs criticized the office for failing to process 5,000 new general cases as planned, with the ODPP only managing to process 1,996 cases.
Mawogola South MP Gorreth Namugga (NUP) highlighted a significant staffing shortage, noting that only 577 out of 1,482 positions in the ODPP were filled. “This is unacceptable,” Namugga remarked. “We cannot operate at just 38% staffing capacity.”
Despite these criticisms, Nzogi defended the ODPP’s performance, explaining that while they had expected to receive 5,000 cases, only 1,996 cases had been submitted, all of which were processed as required.
The debate also touched on the issue of case backlogs, with Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi (NRM) questioning why there was no mention of such a backlog in the ODPP’s report.
Opendi recounted her own experience with a delayed case involving stolen funds from the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), a matter that had yet to be resolved after an extended period.
The call for reform in the ODPP comes at a time when the country’s justice system is grappling with mounting challenges, including a lack of resources, understaffing, and a growing backlog of cases.
Parliament’s intervention seeks to ensure greater accountability and efficiency within the ODPP and the wider judicial process, with hopes that the transfer of court martial cases will expedite the delivery of justice for all Ugandans. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
