The inaugural court of appeal circuit sitting at Kabale High Court is set to address a total of 33 criminal cases, with murder cases dominating the docket. Led by Justice Muzamiru M. Kibeedi, the panel, including Justices Christopher Gashirabake and Oscar John Kihika, commenced the session to handle various criminal offenses.

Among the 33 cases, murder takes the lead with 17 cases, followed by robbery with 3, defilement with 11, rape with 1, and manslaughter with 1. 

Deputy Chief Justice, Honorable Richard Buteera, officially opened the court of appeal session, emphasizing the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice despite the challenge of a limited number of judges.

Buteera acknowledged the pressing issue of a shortage of judges, revealing plans to increase the number from 15 to 56, pending parliamentary approval. 

He emphasized the expansion of the court of appeal beyond Kampala, with a proposal currently before parliament.

The purpose of the court of appeal session, according to Justice Buteera, is to expedite case resolution and provide justice to the people, allowing them to resume their daily responsibilities. He noted that due to the volume of cases, not every advocate would be heard in detail during the session.

Justice Buteera's plans for an expanded judiciary were met with approval by legal experts. Justus Muhangi, an advocate at Muhangi Advocates Company, expressed the significance of the court of appeal session in addressing the backlog of both criminal and civil cases. He sees this as a crucial step that instills hope in the people of Kabale, ensuring justice is delivered locally.

Muhangi emphasized that the session is a vital component of service delivery to the local community, providing timely resolution to legal matters.

Monica Muhumuza, the Kabale district probation officer welcomed the court of appeal session, anticipating that justice would be brought to the people of Kabale. She expressed optimism that the ongoing sessions would alleviate the challenge of case backlog, providing timely resolution to criminal cases. While acknowledging that the session should have started earlier, Muhumuza remains confident that it will ultimately address all pending criminal cases.

The court of appeal session in Kabale, the first of its kind, is slated to span three days, aiming to hear and resolve all 33 criminal cases. This unprecedented event signifies a milestone for the region, bringing hope for expedited justice and a potential solution to the persistent issue of case backlog.