The Registry of Communications and Public Relations this morning conducted a public awareness and sensitisation campaign at Hoima Chief Magistrates Court. The campaign was led by Ms. Halimah Kaggwa, a Senior Client Service Officer, together with Judicial Officers at the station.
The campaign aimed to equip court users with knowledge about judicial processes and procedures, new justice innovations, and ways of improving service delivery.
The Deputy Registrar, Inspectorate, HW Nsenga Festo, addressed the gathering and noted that it is the Judiciary’s responsibility to correct misinformation, investigate concerns, and obtain feedback from court users. He emphasised that the Judiciary exists to serve the public and encouraged court users to make use of the services available at the court.
The Chief Magistrate, HW Kunihira George, welcomed the court users and encouraged them to listen attentively to the information being shared. Ms. Kaggwa then to proceeded with the sensitisation.
Ms. Kaggwa welcomed the participants and took them through the bail process and bail refund procedures. She urged court users to keep their bail papers safely and emphasised that court fees should always be paid through the bank and not to individuals. She further advised them to obtain and safely keep the original payment receipt, noting that without a receipt, a refund may not be possible. She also cautioned court users to provide accurate information when making payments.
Judicial Officers at the station sensitised participants on various Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, including Plea Bargaining, Mediation and the Small Claims Procedure, and encouraged them to make use of these mechanisms where applicable.
Magistrate HW Julian Kimono highlighted the Small Claims Procedure as an opportunity for people to have their disputes resolved without enduring lengthy delays. He advised court users to always put their claims and other relevant information in writing to facilitate efficient service.
HW Mwali Stella, a Magistrate at Hoima Court sensitised participants on plea bargaining, explaining what it entails, its place within criminal law, and the procedure involved. She explained that accused persons have rights that must be respected before and during proceedings, and that some of these rights are affected when an accused person voluntarily pleads guilty. She further noted that the interests and needs of victims are also taken into consideration during the plea-bargaining process.
The Chief Magistrate, HW Kunihira George, spoke about mediation and explained that resolving civil disputes through mediation can speed up the disposal of cases, reduce case backlog and minimise the costs associated with legal representation. He encouraged court users to consider mediation where appropriate and clarified that mediation applies to civil matters, while plea bargaining applies to criminal cases.
As part of the sensitisation, participants received Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials designed to simplify court processes and provide guidance on accessing judicial services.
Ms. Kaggwa also cautioned court users to deal only with court staff who have proper identification in order to avoid fraud and other discrepancies. She highlighted the Judiciary Call Centre as an important avenue through which court users can seek assistance, raise concerns and provide both positive and negative feedback, particularly when they encounter challenges in accessing court services.
Concerns Raised
The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which court users shared their experiences and raised concerns regarding access to justice.
Several participants expressed appreciation to the Magistrates and court staff for the services provided and for the knowledge shared during the sensitisation.
Among the concerns raised was the prolonged stay of land cases in court, with some participants expressing concern that such matters take many years to conclude. Another participant raised concerns about delays by the police in responding to incidents and alleged demands for transport. Another participant sought clarification on how both criminal and civil matters relating to land can be resolved.
The Judicial Officers responded to all the questions and provided guidance to the participants.
The sensitisation campaign provided an opportunity for the Judiciary to engage directly with court users, enhance public understanding of judicial processes, and obtain feedback on the challenges faced by members of the public in accessing justice.
Posted 1st, September 2026
