Activists Warn of Declining Public Trust in Justice System as Victims Abandon Cases

What the report says

Human rights activists from Paradigm for Social Justice and Development say public confidence in Uganda’s justice system is being weakened by delayed responses, poor handling of complaints and stigma faced by victims seeking help. The group raised the concern during a meeting with Wakiso District leaders, where it shared findings from research on access to justice and the barriers residents face when trying to report abuse or crime.

According to the organisation, some victims give up after being referred from one office to another without assistance. One resident, Debra Mazzi, who is visually impaired, said repeated attacks and robberies at her home were not followed up effectively, leaving her discouraged from pursuing her complaints. Other residents interviewed in the study described similar frustration, saying slow or ineffective responses from public institutions had pushed some people to abandon cases entirely.

The activists also said some victims, including people affected by domestic violence, choose to settle disputes privately because of embarrassment or doubt that formal complaints will lead to justice. They said social media disputes and the spread of false information were also emerging as concerns in the district.

Paradigm for Social Justice and Development urged police, Community Development Officers and other public officials to treat complaints seriously and provide timely support. The group said better accountability and service delivery are needed to rebuild trust and encourage victims to use formal justice channels. The study, as reported by Nile Post, also found that women and young people made up 72% of the domestic violence cases identified in Wakiso District.