By Members of Parliament on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee have sounded a warning to the Judiciary, citing the risk of Ugandans losing faith in the judicial system. This caution comes after MPs learned of the Judiciary’s handling of bail applications and remand procedures, which some lawmakers deemed unjust and reckless.
Medard Ssegoona, MP for Busiro East, expressed concerns that the declining public trust could lead to violent protests, similar to those seen in Kenya where parliament and court buildings were set ablaze. Ssegoona criticized the Judiciary’s practice of remanding battered and bleeding individuals to prison without ensuring they receive medical attention.
“You have someone battered and bleeding, yet you remand them without even instructing prisons to provide medical attention… Just next door in Kenya, people burned Parliament. We do not want Ugandans burning our courts,” Ssegoona cautioned.
The MPs were also shocked to discover that the Judiciary had requested a list of inmates on remand without trial from the Commissioner of Prisons, prompting questions about the Judiciary’s record-keeping and commitment to trial dates.
Furthermore, the Judiciary faced criticism for imposing exorbitant bail fees on suspects, with some lawmakers accusing Judicial Officers of prioritizing money over justice. Abdu Katuntu, MP for Bugweri County, argued that bail should be about securing attendance, not making a profit.
“Why has money been the factor of the bail?… It’s just vulgar. Money, money, money. So me, who doesn’t have money, I have no opportunity because the biggest factor is money” Said Katuntu
The warnings and criticisms come as the Judiciary presents its 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement.
