The Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine has said the judiciary is in the process of identifying a new judge to handle all cases related to the 2009 Buganda Riots.
Speaking at the 6th Justice, Law and Order Sector—JLOS forum at Speke Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, Bamwine said the judge who has been trying the suspects was assigned other cases after the prosecution delayed in its investigations. Justice Lameck Mukasa has been handling the cases.
At least 23 suspects remain on remand in Luzira Prisons since 2009, when several towns in Buganda experienced riots after government blocked Kabaka Ronald Mutebi from visiting Bugerere in Kayunga district.
Justice Bamwine’s comments came just hours after a pressure group calling themselves Concerned Citizens, stormed Luzira Prisons demanding for the unconditional release of the 23 suspects charged with terrorism for their involvement in the September 11, 2009 riots. The prisons authorities, however, blocked the activists from entering the premises.
Recently, Buganda Kingdom officials said they would mobilise people to raid Luzira prisons if government does not release the suspects by April 1st.
Bamwine says justice is not a one-agency affair, adding that it includes investigations, prosecution and decision-making which delay the process.
The principal judge attacked government for what he called its move to vet court decisions before implementation, which he said undermines the judiciary.
He called on JLOS to focus on vulnerable groups such as children in prisons and remand homes, widows, orphans, and issues of women.
Bamwine, who was not among the day’s speakers but said he was giving Ugandans a message of hope, also advocated for community-based punishments instead of taking people to prisons. He asked judges with pending cases to stop taking up new cases until they dispose of their backlog.
The forum was organised under the theme: “A Pro-people Justice System.”
