Uganda: Judiciary, UN Drugs & Crime Office Move to Deepen Cooperation On Case Backlog, Prison Decongestion

What the report says

Uganda’s Judiciary and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are discussing closer cooperation on easing case backlog, reducing prison congestion and improving access to justice, according to a report published by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica. The talks took place at the Court of Appeal in Kampala, where Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi met a UNODC delegation led by Jeptum Bargoria, the agency’s head of office in Uganda.

The meeting reviewed existing cooperation and identified several areas for expanded work, including non-custodial measures, the use of technology in courts, environmental crime, Alternative Justice Systems, judicial training and broader criminal justice support. Kawumi said the justice system continues to face heavy delays and called for practical steps to resolve cases faster, as well as more training for judicial officers dealing with evolving forms of crime.

He also urged greater use of alternatives to imprisonment, saying building more prisons would not by itself solve congestion. Bargoria said UNODC’s work in Uganda includes support on criminal justice, anti-corruption efforts and benchmarking with other jurisdictions. She noted that some planned initiatives, including digital court systems and refurbishment projects, have faced delays and were being followed up with UNODC leadership.

A Judiciary official, John Paul Edoku, said past benchmarking helped shape Uganda’s Judicature (Electronic Filing, Service and Virtual Proceedings) Rules, 2025. The two institutions said they will continue discussions as part of efforts to improve efficiency and expand access to justice.