KAMPALA – Officials from the Refugee Law Project (RLP) on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, paid a courtesy call on Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa, the new Resident Judge of Masindi, to explore the possibility of holding a High Court criminal session in Kiryadongo Refugee Camp.
Ms. Peace Mbabazi, who led the team from RLP, informed the Resident Judge that their organization was partnering with the Justice Law and Order Sector institutions to extend and deepen access to justice for refugees who are currently underserved by an overstretched justice system.
She said one of the options being explored was to fund High Court criminal sessions in the refugee camps in West Nile, Northern Region, Western Region and Masindi Area.
Justice Gadenya welcomed the intervention, noting that it was timely, given the high case backlog in the circuit and limitations of the court to reach all the vulnerable and marginalized segments of society especially refugees.
He expressed willingness to consider holding a criminal session of 240 cases in March, if the stakeholders, necessary logistics and organizational safeguards are put in place.
Justice Gadenya urged RLP to consider partnering with the Judiciary to establish mobile courts as one of the avenues to bring services to underrepresented areas in the circuit.
He said this will enable both refugees and the host communities to benefit from the interventions.
The RLP is set to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Judiciary to provide mechanisms for the planned session.
The Wednesday meeting was attended by Mr. Simon Kintu Zirintuusa, the Assistant Registrar of the Masindi High Court who commended RLP’s kind gesture.
