Nebbi High Court hears 50 serious criminal cases
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Monitor
Uganda’s High Court in Nebbi has opened a special session for 50 serious criminal cases, including murder, rape and aggravated robbery, prioritising detainees awaiting trial for more than three years. The hearings are intended to reduce the backlog, and the selected cases are to be concluded by 4 December 2026, according to Uganda’s judiciary.
The High Court in Nebbi, Uganda, has opened a special session devoted to 50 criminal cases carrying the death penalty. The court is prioritising suspects who have been held for more than three years, according to Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor.
The cases scheduled for hearings include murder, aggravated rape, aggravated robbery, human trafficking and aggravated sexual offences. High Court judge Boniface Wamala said hearings would be scheduled directly, as there was limited time for plea negotiations. The cases are to be concluded by 4 December 2026.
The judge called for reliable witnesses and said cases involving people held for at least three years without essential witnesses should be dropped. Nebbi Public Prison officer Earnest Turyomungyendo said overcrowding had led to inmates being transferred to Paidha, Pakwach and Arua.
Nebbi District Resident Commissioner Robert Abak called for a permanent High Court circuit in the region. Residents currently have to travel to Arua High Court for serious criminal trials, increasing their travel costs, he said.
