Deputy Chief Justice flags off Court of Appeal criminal session in Gulu

What the report says

Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi has opened a two-day Court of Appeal criminal session at Gulu High Court in northern Uganda, where judges are hearing 29 criminal appeals. According to Nile Post, the session began on Tuesday, August 25, and is scheduled to conclude on August 26, 2026. The panel includes Lady Justice Eva Luswata, Justice Dr Asa Mugenyi and Justice Musa Ssekaana.

Kazibwe said holding appellate proceedings outside Kampala is meant to bring justice closer to people who might otherwise face distance and cost barriers when pursuing appeals. He praised justice institutions in Northern Uganda for cooperation and urged them to work more closely rather than in isolation. He also told court users that each appeal reflects real lives and that criminal justice must balance firmness with fairness.

The deputy chief justice also pointed to ongoing Judiciary reforms in the region. He said Gulu has been added to the Electronic Court Case Management Information System and promised support and training for users. He further encouraged appellate mediation, plea bargaining and, where lawful, traditional restorative justice approaches such as Mato Oput and Kwer Kwor. Separately, he said a permanent regional Court of Appeal facility in Northern Uganda is about 20% complete and could be ready by May 2027 if construction stays on schedule. The development matters because it reflects a wider effort to decentralise higher court services and improve access to justice in northern Uganda.