Judiciary pledges to fast-track GBV cases

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The Principal Judge Dr Flavian Zeija has presided over the national launch of the Judiciary time-share fast track mechanism for gender-based violence (GBV) cases project at Supreme Court in Kampala.

The Judiciary with support from the Austrian Development Agency and in partnership with UN Women is scheduled to commence the Justice for her Project, a time share fast-track mechanism for management of GBV in the High Court Circuits of Masaka and Gulu.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of the Judiciary to identify, prioritise, allocate, expeditiously handle, and utilize information technology in the management of GBV cases.

The development of the project was a highly collaborative and consultative process with key government institutions.

These include the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Uganda Police Force, the Justice Law and Order Secretariat, and the Judicial Training Institute, among others.

Some of the February 26, 2025, event included Dr Katja Yvonne Kerschbaumer (head of Austrian embassy/Development Co-operation), Natasha Butorac (representative United Nation Women), Sarah Langa Siu (Judiciary chief registrar), judges and a cross-section of judicial officers, as well as other key stakeholders in the justice chain.

James Ereemye Jumire Mawanda, the Judiciary Public Relations Officer moderated the event.

GBV cases in Uganda

Both men and women can experience GBV, though statistics show that women disproportionately bear the burden.

According to Uganda’s 2023 Police Crime Report, out of 15,184 reported domestic violence cases, 10,792 victims were female adults compared to 3,243 male adults.