Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have strongly criticized the Judiciary over prolonged delays in the dispensation of justice, which has left some inmates languishing in Luzira Prison for more than 28 years on remand.
During a committee session scrutinizing the findings of the 2024 Auditor General’s report on the Judiciary, MPs expressed outrage over the inefficiencies that have prolonged the suffering of detainees.
Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa highlighted the plight of suspects at the International Crimes Division, noting that a certain group of has been on remand for over a decade and, in that period, has only appeared in court three times for pre-trial hearings.
He condemned the Judiciary’s sluggish handling of cases, arguing that such delays violate fundamental human rights and undermine confidence in the country’s legal system.
The lawmakers urged the Judiciary to expedite case hearings and implement reforms to ensure justice is delivered promptly. They also called for an audit of pending cases to establish why certain detainees have been on remand for excessive periods without trial.
The Judiciary has yet to respond to the allegations, but the PAC insisted that urgent measures must be taken to prevent further injustices and protect the rights of all detainees.
Relatedly,the Committee questioned the Judiciary over fund mismanagement and 13.371 billion shillings in arrears for FY 2023/24 being attributed to motor vehicle repairs and maintenance and rent expenses by court premises to which the committee protested.