African International Criminal Law (Law/Political Science crossover) | 10 November 2009
Criminal Justice Reforms and Pre-Trial Detention in Uganda: An Ethnographic Inquiry
C, h, e, w, u, l, u, O, k, e, l, l, o
Abstract
The Ugandan criminal justice system has been under scrutiny for its pre-trial detention practices, which have been criticized for being lengthy and harsh. Data was collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders including judges, prosecutors, defence attorneys, and community members; and document analysis of court records and policy documents. Community members reported significant reductions in pre-trial detention times following reform initiatives, where the proportion of cases reduced from 80% to 45% over a year. Reforms have shown promise in decreasing pre-trial detention periods but face challenges related to resource allocation and community engagement. Further research into sustainable community involvement is recommended alongside improvements in judicial resources.