Hope for justice as Lwengo hosts its first-ever High Court trial
Justice Fatumah Nanziri Bwanika, the new Masaka High Court Resident Judge opening the first ever criminal session in Lwengo District on May 14,2025. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Until now, residents of Lwengo had to travel about 50 kilometres to Masaka City to attend High Court proceedings—an often costly and time-consuming burden.
Excitement is high in Uganda’s Lwengo District as the Judiciary launched the first-ever High Court criminal session in the area, a move leaders say will ease access to justice and address a growing backlog of serious cases.
The month-long session, being held at the Lwengo District headquarters, is presided over by Justice Fatumah Nanziri Bwanika, the newly appointed resident judge for the Masaka High Court circuit.
It will handle more than 40 cases—many involving murder, aggravated defilement, robbery, and other grave offences, some dating back to 2022.
“This is a big step for our district,” said Mr Swaleh Atiku, the Mbirizi Grade One Magistrate, during the opening on Wednesday.
“The inmates that have been on remand for long will get a chance to know their fate. Locals will no longer have to travel to Masaka to seek justice,” he added.
Mr Atiku noted that Lwengo is grappling with a surge in sexual and gender-based violence, some cases resulting in death, adding that the presence of a High Court session is vital in restoring law and order.
Lwengo District Khadi, Sheikh Ismael Kibule, welcomed the session but raised concern about increasing levels of defilement and murder.
“Being in prison doesn’t mean someone is guilty,” he said. “Let them undergo trial. Those found guilty should be convicted and punished accordingly. But justice must prevail.”
Lwengo’s Resident District Commissioner, Mr Emmy Katera Turyabagenyi, praised the Judiciary for the milestone and called for more such sessions in the region.
“The government is committed to fighting crime and promoting the rule of law,” he said. “We urge the Judiciary to hold more criminal sessions so that people do not spend years on remand without trial.”
The session is part of a broader effort by Uganda’s Judiciary to reduce congestion in prisons and improve the speed of case handling, especially in underserved rural districts like Lwengo, located in the central region, southwest of the capital Kampala.
Until now, residents of Lwengo had to travel about 50 kilometres to Masaka City to attend High Court proceedings—an often costly and time-consuming burden for families of victims and suspects alike.
