Lawmakers on Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have criticized the Judiciary over delays in justice delivery, with some inmates spending more than 28 years on remand at Luzira Prison.Leading the scrutiny was Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa, during a PAC meeting on February 26, 2025, which examined concerns raised in the 2024 Auditor General’s report. Basalirwa questioned how the Judiciary receives full funding for case handling but continues to post low case disposal rates.“The Human Rights Committee of Parliament visited Luzira Prison and found individuals who have been on remand for 28 years. One particular inmate even shouted from his window, catching our attention. The Speaker had directed that we get a full list of such cases, and the concern here is not just about Luzira but the Judiciary as a whole,” Basalirwa stated.He also raised concerns about discrimination against Muslim suspects at the International Crimes Division, noting that many had been on remand for over 10 years, with some appearing in court only three times for pre-trial sessions.“There is a case I’m handling—Jamil Mukulu and 33 others—before the International Crimes Division. These individuals have been on remand for ten years, yet they have only appeared in court about three times, and just for pre-trial hearings. The majority of suspects in this division are Muslims, and I am deeply concerned,” hhe said.Basalirwa questioned why justice delivery remains slow despite full budget allocations, calling for an explanation from the Judiciary.“If money is released and fully utilized, yet case backlogs persist, that raises serious questions. You must explain how funds are spent while case disposal remains low,” he challenged.Case DelaysAccording to the 2024 Auditor General’s report, a review of 878 civil cases completed in 2024 found that:781 cases (89%) were concluded within the required 24 months.97 cases (11%) took between two and 14 years to resolve.Similarly, an analysis of 889 completed criminal cases revealed:706 cases (79%) were resolved within 12 months.183 cases (21%) took between one and 22 years to conclude.PAC Chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi also raised concerns over the prison population, revealing that of the 79,756 inmates at the time of the audit:40,000 were convicts, while38,222 were on remand.“You have people between the ages of 13 and 23—some of them, 4,000 in total, have never been committed to the High Court. Worse still, 594 petty offenders have been on remand for 22 months. What does this say about the Judiciary’s efficiency? Prisons are overcrowded, yet more people keep being placed on remand,” Muwanga remarked.Pius Bigirimana, Secretary to the Judiciary, acknowledged the backlog of cases but assured MPs that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms were yielding progress.“Your recent approval of more judges will improve case resolution. We are also actively using mediation and plea bargaining, which have already yielded remarkable results. Many cases are being resolved outside the courts,” he said.Judiciary’s FundingThe Auditor General’s report also revealed that, despite receiving UGX 65 billion for 16 planned activities, many of these were only partially implemented. These activities included:Case disposalEstablishment of breastfeeding and children’s playroomsAdditionally, in FY 2023/24, the Judiciary was allocated UGX 362.64 billion, out of which UGX 351.10 billion was utilized, leaving UGX 11.54 billion unspent. This remaining amount was earmarked for staff salaries, pensions, and gratuities for retiring personnel.Lawmakers have demanded further explanations on how Judiciary funds are used and why case backlogs remain unresolved.-Parliament WatchThe post MPs Probe Judiciary Over Delayed Access To Justice appeared first on Business Focus.