Kampala, Uganda: The International Justice Mission (IJM) has released a damning new report exposing deep-rooted public distrust and systemic failures in Uganda’s criminal justice system, particularly in handling cases of violence against women and children.
The “National Baseline Survey,” unveiled on Monday, paints a troubling portrait of an institution hampered by slow investigations, under-resourced law enforcement, and critically low confidence among both the public and justice sector stakeholders.
Beata Chelimo, IJM’s Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Department, described the severe constraints facing police. “How do you expect a police officer who can barely afford decent accommodation to work with passion?” she asked, citing the lack of decentralised forensic services as a major cause of case delays.
“By the time a forensics expert travels from a distant district to Kampala for lab access and returns, it’s already too late. This jeopardises the quick administration of justice.”
The numbers are stark: only 18% of surveyed stakeholders expressed confidence in the criminal justice system overall. Confidence in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was even lower at just 9%.
Responding to the findings, DPP Jane Frances Abodo admitted that public trust had eroded, calling for “comprehensive public sensitisation” to improve transparency and rebuild confidence.
IJM Country Director Wamaitha Kimani urged government to prioritise urgent systemic reforms to protect Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.
“Without swift changes, the justice system risks failing those who depend on it the most,” she warned, adding that the report should guide future policy reforms and investments to create a more responsive, trusted, and accessible system.
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