The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, on Tuesday toured key judicial facilities in the Gulu High Court Circuit, including the Gulu Court of Appeal construction site and Omoro Magistrates Court, before paying a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs regional office in Gulu.
At the Gulu Court of Appeal construction site, Justice Abodo assessed the progress of works during a guided tour led by Project Manager Samuel Okello.
Okello reported that construction remains on schedule, with the project expected to be handed over within the projected 18 months.
Justice Abodo later visited the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gulu Regional Office, where she commended the dedication of the five State Attorneys serving 21 districts in the region.
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She was received by Elizabeth Nyakwebera, the Principal State Attorney in charge, who congratulated her on her appointment and expressed confidence in her leadership, particularly in advancing staff welfare and strengthening the justice sector.
During her visit to Omoro Magistrates Court in Laroji Sub-county, Justice Abodo engaged judicial officers and stakeholders, emphasising the need to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a means of improving access to justice.
She urged courts to prioritise cases originating within their jurisdictions to strengthen community trust.
"When we deploy judicial officers, we encourage them to reside within the communities they serve and to familiarise themselves with how those communities perceive justice. Hearing cases from Gulu would defeat the purpose of taking the court closer to the people," she said.
The Principal Judge also commended Deputy Registrar George Ebong for his strong presence and engagement with stakeholders across the circuit, noting that his impact is widely recognised.
She encouraged him to follow up on the processing of the court's land title.
Ebong, in turn, appreciated stakeholders for their continued support, particularly in providing land for court operations, and called for similar support to be extended to other justice institutions such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Uganda Prisons Service.
Magistrate Grade One Bonny Akol briefed the Principal Judge on the court's operations, noting that Omoro Magistrates Court currently handles a caseload of 181 cases with only three staff members.
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He explained that the court takes on all criminal matters from Gulu Chief Magistrate's Court due to the absence of State Attorneys and a prison facility within Omoro District. Civil cases are shared between Gulu and Omoro depending on their origin.
Omoro Resident District Commissioner Emmanuel Okot welcomed the visit and reaffirmed the district's commitment to supporting the judiciary.
He pledged to engage local leaders to secure office space for justice sector actors to enhance service delivery.
Chief Administrative Officer Danito Oola informed the Principal Judge that 2.3 acres of land have been allocated for the court and later led her on a guided visit to the proposed site.
The visit was attended by district security and administrative officials, including the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, District Internal Security Officer, District Police Commander, and District Planning Officer, alongside judiciary representatives from the Gulu circuit.
