The Gulu High Court Circuit is facing a growing case backlog, raising concern among judicial leaders over delays in access to justice.
Philip Odoki, the Resident Judge says the court is currently handling close to two thousand cases with only two judges and one magistrate.
He describes the workload as overwhelming, noting that the few judicial officers are struggling to keep up with the volume of cases.
Justice Odoki attributes the backlog to the structure of the formal justice system, where most disputes must pass through courts hence creating congestion.
He adds that long distances to courts, complex procedures, and high legal costs continue to limit access to timely justice for many people.
Jane Frances Abodo, the Principal Judge acknowledges the challenge and says the Judiciary is working on solutions to ease pressure on courts.
She notes that many of the cases involve land and family disputes, which take time to resolve under the formal system.
Meanwhile, Andrew Khaukha, the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute says findings from past research highlight the need for reforms to reduce case backlog.
He says the Judiciary is now focusing on practical measures, including alternative approaches to dispute resolution in order to improve efficiency.
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