UGANDA: Sexual Offences Should Be Handled Fast

The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, has said the Judiciary will ensure that rape and defilement cases are disposed of within the shortest time possible.

Odoki said he was going to write to the judicial officials, the Director of Public Prosecution, and the Police to ensure that sexual cases are handled within six months.

“Expeditious resolution of rape and defilement cases is important. We shall try to give priority to these cases,” he said.

Odoki was last week responding to women rights activists' appeal to hold a special court session to handle cases of sexual violence.

The activists argued that it takes two to three years to have rape and defilement cases disposed of, which creates agony for the victims.

The activists were from Centre for Women in Governance, Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention, FIDA-Uganda, ISIS-Women's International Cultural Exchange and the Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women.

Allen Asiimwe, who headed the 10-member delegation, urged Odoki to hold camera sessions when victims of rape and defilement are testifying in a bid to encourage women to report sexual offences.

The activists asked the chief Justice to ensure that harsh punishments are given to perpetrators of sexual offences to deter others, adding that the current two to three-year sentences are too lenient.

The women also proposed that the judiciary should order for the compensation of victims and ensure their psycho-social being through counselling.

Odoki informed the activists that the Justice, Law Order Sector is adopting interventions of family justice to protect women and children, adding that the conviction for sex offenders should be more than 20 years.

He urged the delegation to continue fighting for the rights of women and children.