Patongo High Court marks first anniversary as Resident Judge rallies stakeholders to champion ADR and AJS
The Resident Judge of Patongo High Court, Justice Okello George, has called on justice sector stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as effective mechanisms for promoting the expeditious disposal of cases and improving access to justice.
Justice Okello made the call during the Court’s fourth quarter Regional Coordination Committee (RCC) meeting held on 10th July Friday, which brought together justice sector stakeholders from the districts of Abim, Otuke, Pader and Agago to review court performance, discuss emerging challenges, and strengthen collaboration in the administration of justice.
The meeting, moderated by the Acting Assistant Registrar, HW Ajok Betty, attracted representatives from the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Police Force, local government officials and other justice institutions.
In his remarks, Justice Okello underscored the importance of embracing ADR and AJS as complementary approaches to the formal justice system, noting that they provide quicker, less adversarial and more cost-effective avenues for resolving disputes while easing the burden on the courts.
During the discussions, Officer Awio Petersonic, representing the Officer in Charge of Otuke Prison, observed that before the operationalisation of Patongo High Court, the region had gone for more than two years without a criminal session, leading to prolonged detention of suspects. He noted that the establishment of the High Court has significantly improved the administration of criminal justice, adding that, for the first time, prisons in the region now have more convicted prisoners than remand inmates, a reflection of increased case disposal.
The Chief Administrative Officer of Pader District, Ms Catherine Among, appealed to the Regional Coordination Committee to engage the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to deploy additional State Attorneys to the region. She explained that the few prosecutors currently serving the Circuit are overstretched and unable to adequately handle the growing workload.
The meeting concluded on a celebratory note as stakeholders cut a cake to commemorate the first anniversary of Patongo High Court. The applauding the court’s contribution to improving access to justice in the Acholi sub-region and reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in enhancing justice service delivery.
Posted 10th, July 2026
