Uganda ODPP: 38 Districts Without State Attorneys Strain Justice

• Thirty-eight districts across Uganda currently lack State Attorneys, forcing the transfer of criminal case files to neighboring areas.
• The absence of professional prosecutors means police officers often handle complex criminal matters, raising concerns about their capacity.
• Despite these staffing challenges, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reported an 80% conviction rate for Gender-Based Violence cases by the 2025/2026 financial year and an overall 67% conviction rate.
• The ODPP has recovered 15 billion shillings and land worth 1.6 billion shillings through anti-corruption efforts.
• The office is implementing a new Prosecution Case Management Information System (PROCAMIS) to digitize records and improve information sharing.

Lawyers handling criminal cases in Uganda, particularly in the 38 identified districts, should anticipate significant delays, potential procedural irregularities due to police-led prosecutions, and the need to track transferred case files to neighboring jurisdictions, which will impact defense strategies and client advice.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Uganda is grappling with a significant staffing crisis, with 38 districts across the nation currently operating without any State Attorneys. This critical shortage, publicly disclosed by Director of Public Prosecutions Lino Anguzu during a recent press conference in Kampala, necessitates the transfer of criminal case files to neighboring jurisdictions that do have prosecutors. In other instances, cases in these Uganda districts without State Attorneys are left without professional legal representation, creating substantial challenges for the criminal justice system.

Anguzu highlighted that this Uganda ODPP staffing shortage forces the office to make difficult operational decisions. Districts such as Rwampara, Rukiga, Madi-Okollo, Buvuma, and Kalaki are among those identified as lacking government prosecutors entirely. The absence of State Attorneys means that police prosecutors are often left to handle criminal matters, a situation that raises considerable concerns regarding their capacity to manage the complexities inherent in serious criminal proceedings.

The reliance on police prosecutors in the absence of State Attorneys introduces a significant vulnerability into Uganda's criminal justice system. While police play a crucial role in investigations, their training and mandate differ from those of professional prosecutors, potentially impacting the quality and fairness of trials, particularly for intricate cases. This Uganda prosecution services gap not only strains the system but also places an undue burden on the police force, diverting resources from their primary investigative duties.

Furthermore, the mandated Uganda criminal case file transfers to adjacent districts with State Attorneys create logistical hurdles and can lead to considerable delays in the administration of justice. This process increases the workload for already stretched prosecutors in the receiving districts and can prolong the period during which individuals await trial, undermining the efficiency and accessibility of the legal process. Lawyers handling criminal cases in Uganda, particularly in the 38 identified districts, should anticipate significant delays, potential procedural irregularities due to police-led prosecutions, and the need to track transferred case files to neighboring jurisdictions, which will impact defense strategies and client advice.

Despite the pronounced staffing challenges, the ODPP has reported notable improvements in its overall prosecution performance. Director Anguzu revealed an increase in the conviction rate for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, soaring from 30 percent in 2019 to an impressive 80 percent by the 2025/2026 financial year, a success attributed to specialized training for prosecutors. The office also achieved an overall conviction rate of 67 percent during the financial year, demonstrating a commitment to securing justice.

The ODPP has also made significant strides in combating corruption, with conviction rates for such cases ranging between 80 and 90 percent, largely due to prosecution-guided investigations and enhanced handling procedures. Through its anti-corruption efforts, the ODPP has successfully recovered approximately 15 billion shillings in funds and land valued at about 1.6 billion shillings. Additionally, measures aimed at reducing the backlog of criminal cases have seen 28,971 cases concluded through plea bargaining over the past five years, and 4,640 capital cases finalized by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year since daily hearings were introduced in 2022. Prominent cases prosecuted include the conviction of former Minister Agnes Nandutu in the Karamoja iron sheets case, a death sentence for Christopher Okello Onyum for the murder of four children, and convictions in the Susan Magara kidnap and murder case, as well as the Masaka "Bijambiya" murder cases.

Beyond courtroom successes, the ODPP is actively embracing technology to enhance its operational efficiency and case management capabilities. The office is accelerating the deployment of the Prosecution Case Management Information System (PROCAMIS), alongside other advanced data management tools. This strategic initiative aims to digitize all prosecution records, streamline information sharing among legal professionals, and bolster the monitoring of ongoing cases.

The overarching objective of this technological push, as articulated by Anguzu, is to establish a fully digitized prosecution system. This future-forward approach will enable prosecutors to securely access case files electronically, eliminating the need for physical file transfers between upcountry stations and significantly improving the speed and security of legal processes across Uganda.

Lawyers handling criminal cases in Uganda, particularly in the 38 districts identified, should anticipate significant delays, potential procedural irregularities due to police-led prosecutions, and the need to track transferred case files to neighboring jurisdictions, which will impact defense strategies and client advice.

Source: Original reporting via local reports