Many participants, speaking in the local Lugbara dialect, complained that cases have dragged on for five to ten years without justification, while others reported that their case files had gone missing—both in court and at the police stations where criminal cases were initially registered.
Dr. Flavian Zeija the outgoing Principal Judge and now the Deputy Chief Justice Designate and his Team in a group Photo with Locals who turned up for the High Court Open day 2025 in Arua on Tuesday.
Residents of West Nile have called on the Judiciary to address delays in court processes, prevent the disappearance of case files, and curb corruption in the administration of justice. These concerns were raised during the 2025 Open High Court Day held at the Arua High Court premises on Tuesday under the theme: "Accountability and Access to Justice."
Many participants, speaking in the local Lugbara dialect, complained that cases have dragged on for five to ten years without justification, while others reported that their case files had gone missing—both in court and at the police stations where criminal cases were initially registered.
Some residents further alleged that judicial officers had demanded bribes to process their cases, while others claimed they were forced to pay for bail, yet the money was never refunded as required by law.
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Newly appointed Resident High Court Judge of Arua, Grace Magara, acknowledged these concerns and assured residents that the challenges would be addressed. She also urged the public to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as an alternative to litigation.
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Meanwhile, Pamela Lamunu Ochaya, the Acting Chief Registrar of the High Court of Uganda, commended the organizers of the Open High Court Day, noting that it provided valuable feedback from the public. She pledged to improve service delivery in the region.
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Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, the outgoing Principal Judge and now Deputy Chief Justice Designate, acknowledged the concerns raised. He assured residents that judicial reforms were already underway, including establishing more courts, increasing manpower, and decentralizing court inspections to improve efficiency. However, he warned judicial officers against engaging in corrupt practices, emphasizing that such actions could tarnish their reputation despite their competitive salaries.
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Despite the large turnout for the Open High Court Day, many residents were left disappointed as they had mistakenly believed it was a session for resolving their cases. Others could not voice their concerns due to the ongoing nature of their court matters.
