Justice System In Uganda

Uganda is an interior country situated in East Africa, it attained it status as a Republic in 1962 when it received its independence from British colonial rule. Prior to 1962, Uganda’s justice system was powerful and respected, judicial hearings were impartial and well regarded. The system has since become riddled with exploitation and has increasingly become an inefficient justice system; however, with the election of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Ugandan Police Force, focus has shifted in an effort to reduce crime. The Uganda Police Force upholds heavy police placements in metropolitan areas that aids in the prevention of criminal and terrorist activities. While the increased police presence has made progress toward professionalization

The Constitution recognized Uganda as a republic with an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The Executive branch is controlled by the President who is aided by the Vice President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers. The Judiciary is made up of the various courts of judicature, which are self-governing arms of government; they include, the magisterial courts, High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Given that Uganda was a British colony, the English legal system and law are predominant in Uganda and based on English Common Law and African customary law (Mahoro, 2006). The Constitution of Uganda includes laws and guidelines that are not typically seen or implemented in more developed countries. The Constitution of Uganda permits any person to arrest an individual who has allegedly committed a crime or is thought to have committed a crime. Suspects must be turned over to the police and within forty-eight hours of arrest the suspect must be presented in court or released on bond. The court then has the opportunity to remand the suspect for 120 days or 360 days, depending on the severity of the cram, until the commencement of the trial. The Uganda Police are required “to protect life and property; to preserve law and order; to prevent and detect rime; and to cooperate with the civilian authority and other security organs established under this Constitution and

Rebel groups operate freely in the eastern DRC, posing a potential risk along Uganda 's western border region. The northern border with Southern Sudan has a limited security presence and current instability which could draw Uganda into a regional conflict but it is unlikely that it would spill over the border into Uganda. Primarily, Uganda does not have any large organized crime elements operating within the country. Human smuggling syndicates operate in Uganda providing fraudulent identification for intending illegal immigrants to the European Union, but the volume is likely small. Since Uganda lacks any law that prevents money laundering, organizations could easily operate with little risk of exposure based on its negligent financial regulatory framework but thus far none have emerged. Uganda’s extensive and porous borders are inadequately policed, allowing for a robust flow of illicit trade and immigration. Rebel groups operate freely in eastern DRC, posing a potential risk along Uganda’s western border. The northern border with South Sudan has a limited security presence, and the crisis there has resulted in the flow of hundreds of thousands of refugees into Uganda, exacerbating an already challenging security situation. The largest international