Special Ugandan courts offer justice for rape victims

World
Europe

Courts across Uganda have begun trying hundreds of stalled sexual violence cases, including many child rapes, in an effort to provide long-overdue justice for victims.

Over a month, judges in 13 courts in six towns are aiming to hear 700 cases of sexual violence and crimes that constitute over 60 percent of capital offenses in Uganda, according to High Court judge Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa, who is coordinating the initiative.

"Sexual and gender-based violence offenses are the most common and prevalent offenses committed in Uganda, and from our reports only ten percent of these cases end up in court," said Wolimbwa.

Official records show that over 211,000 sexual violence cases were reported in 2015-16 while a UN report in August found that one in three Ugandan girls was subjected to sexual attacks.

A protester poses with a poster during a women's march demanding police action to stop a spate of kidnappings and murders of women in Kampala, June 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

The special court sessions began on Monday aiming to make a dent in the backlog of more than 6,000 outstanding sexual violence cases.

Wolimbwa said he hoped the hearings would prove successful, paving the way for the creation of a dedicated sexual crimes court. "What we are looking at is to have permanent special courts to try these cases," he said.

Some of the victims had waited as many as seven years to see their attackers go on trial.

Rosemary Kyomugasho, a 38-year-old businesswoman, said her sister was left traumatized after being robbed and gang-raped. "We have been going to court for the last two years but the case is always postponed," she said.

Protesters shout slogans and hold banners reading "She decides the new normal" during a women's march in Kampala, June 30, 2018. /VCG Photo

While Ugandan law allows for the death penalty for convicted rapists, judges in the special court sessions will issue maximum life sentences.

Some cases had taken so long to see their day in court that the perpetrators had died in the interim.

"In Uganda, it is difficult to try these offenses in normal courts, partly because of the social stigma attached to victims of rape - especially children - which discourages them from testifying, and partly because of lack of funds," said Wolimbwa.

"We only get 40 percent of the budget we need and from there we decide what to do and that's why we have the backlog," he said.

(Source: AFP)