The Court of Appeal has, for the first time, moved its proceedings to Soroti to hear 35 pending appeals arising from decisions of the High Court in the Teso Sub-region, in a move aimed at bringing appellate justice closer to litigants.
A panel of three justices led by Justice Oscar Kihika will hear the cause-listed appeals over the next three days from Tuesday as the Judiciary steps up efforts to reduce the backlog of cases and ease the burden faced by litigants who have traditionally had to travel to Kampala to pursue their appeals.
The other members of the panel are Justices Florence Nakachwa and Esta Nambayo.
Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kawumi Kazibwe, in remarks delivered by Justice Kihika, described the session as historic, saying it marked the first time the Court of Appeal had held a session in the Teso Sub-region.
“This is a historic session as the Court of Appeal holds its first session in Teso Sub-region,” Justice Kazibwe said.
He added: “The people of Teso require timely justice, and that is why the Judiciary is partnering with other stakeholders to close those gaps.”
The move was welcomed by local leaders, who said the cost of travelling to Kampala and the prolonged nature of appeal proceedings had placed an additional burden on litigants from the countryside.
The Teso cultural leader said holding the session in Soroti would provide relief to people who would otherwise struggle to finance trips to Kampala.
“When you talk about delays associated with the Court of Appeal, people in the countryside fear travelling to Kampala because they don't have the financial capacity to do so. I am now happy that they will no longer have to travel to Kampala for their appeals,” the cultural leader said.
The Resident Judge of Soroti High Court, Justice Boniface Wamala, said taking appellate justice closer to the people was a significant step towards making the justice system more accessible.
“This session is a very big step towards bringing justice to the grassroots. We take it simple, but taking people from here to Kampala for their appeals isn't simple,” Justice Wamala said.
He said some litigants are forced to sell property to finance their attendance at appeal proceedings, which can require several trips to Kampala.
“Litigants have to sell their property in order to attend an appeal session in Kampala, and yet it is never one session, meaning one has to sell their property many times,” he said.
The Court of Appeal, Uganda's second-highest court, has traditionally sat mainly in Kampala to determine appeals arising from High Court decisions across the country.
However, the Judiciary is now decentralising appellate services as part of efforts to make justice more accessible.
The Judiciary is constructing permanent Court of Appeal facilities in Gulu, with the project currently estimated to be about 20 per cent complete.
Similar facilities are planned for Mbarara and Mbale.
In the interim, the appellate court has begun holding special sessions in different parts of the country to deal with appeals arising from those areas.
Among the notable matters listed for hearing is a long-running land dispute between Serere District Local Government and human rights defender Moses Omiat.
The district is challenging a decision of the Soroti High Court that declared Mr Omiat the lawful owner of 150 acres of contested customary land.
In June 2022, then Soroti High Court Judge Henry Adonyo ruled in favour of Mr Omiat and ordered Serere District Local Government to pay Shs320 million in legal costs following the destruction of trees on the disputed land.
Mr Omiat has since accused several senior district officials of continuing to deny him access to the land and trespassing on it despite the court decision.
He alleges that trespassers have been allowed onto the land, where trees are allegedly being cut for timber and charcoal burning, while other portions are being used for brick-making and a weekly market.
The district has appealed the High Court decision. The justices said the judgment will be given on notice.
Other appeals on the cause-list include Inspectorate of Government (IGG) v Ruth Achimo, concerning a judicial review; Joseph Omujal v Soroti Catholic Church, involving a land dispute; and Soroti University Council v Ruth Achimo, concerning an alleged interdiction.
The session also highlighted the human cost of delayed justice, with several elderly litigants who could not walk into the courtroom being carried by relatives and well-wishers.
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