The Acting Chief Justice Afonso Owinyi Dollo has officially opened the hearing of 40 criminal cases by the court of appeal sitting in Mbale.The cases are being heard through zoom technology due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sessions which will last for one month and they will be presided over by Justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende, Cheborion Barishaki and Muzamiru Kibeedi. Hand-in-hand with a team of prosecutors, the new Director of Public Prosecution, Justice Jane Frances Abodo, will make her maiden court appearance in Mbale where she will handle some appeals before returning to Kampala to handle other administrative duties.
The cause-list of the 40 cases fixed for hearing include 17 murder related appeals, 12 aggravated defilement cases, 7 aggravated robberies among others. While addressing the media on Tuesday, Chief Justice Owinyi-Dollo said that the sessions will be heard through zoom to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
The first case on the cause-list is a State appeal against the acquittal of 12 people who were acquitted on the first appeal on charges of arson, inciting violence, doing grievous harm and assault.
The offence was committed in Tororo District where the appellants were convicted for burning several houses belonging to their neighbours in an inter-tribal clash.
The acting Registrar Court of Appeal, Ayebare Tumwebaze, said the session will be scientific.
“Since the appellants/prisoners will not come to court due to the threat of Coronavirus, the hearings will be via zoom technology. Lawyers will carry along laptop computers for the session. The court will provide internet connectivity and their lordships will host the zoom session while sitting at Mbale High Court,” Tumwebaze said.
He urged the lawyers in conduct of the matters to observe the Covid-19 prevention guidelines issued by the Chief Justice and Ministry of Health on social distancing, hand washing, sanitization and wearing face masks among others.