The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has come under pressure following its failure to assume control of case files belonging to over 423 Ugandans who were previously facing trial before military courts.
These individuals remain detained without trial, despite a January 31, 2025 Supreme Court ruling that declared the trial of civilians in the military court martial system unconstitutional. The ruling ordered the immediate transfer of all pending cases to the civilian justice system.
However, eight months later, most of the affected detainees — some jailed since early 2024 — are still languishing in prison, caught between a disbanded court martial system and a civilian legal process that has yet to take over their cases.
The issue exploded during a plenary session in Parliament, where Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi challenged the government to explain the prolonged inaction.
“These people are being denied justice. The courts have rejected them, and the DPP hasn’t taken over. Where are they supposed to go?” Ssenyonyi asked.
He cited the case of Anthony Agaba (alias Bobi Young), who remains incarcerated even after High Court Judge Baguma declined to hear his bail application, citing lack of jurisdiction since the DPP had not officially taken over the case.
In response, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi asked for patience, admitting that the government still needed “more time to process files.” However, he offered no clear timeline.
This has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates, who accuse the government of dragging its feet on a matter that affects basic civil liberties.
Journalists also questioned state officials about how long they intend to withhold case files of former court martial detainees, but no clear answers were provided.
Meanwhile, the delay raises questions about the transitional leadership at the DPP. Former DPP Justice Jane Frances Abodo, who is now Principal Judge, left office without resolving the crisis. Critics argue that she failed to implement the Supreme Court ruling with the urgency it required, leaving hundreds of civilians in legal limbo.
Parliament continues to demand answers, and pressure is mounting on the executive branch to act swiftly in resolving what many see as an avoidable justice crisis.
