By Katura Wokorach-Oboi
The long-awaited High Court Criminal Session has started in Kitgum with the presiding judge calling on leaders to fight the excessive level of alcoholism to reduce crimes.
Speaking during the launch of the Session at Kitgum Chief Magistrate on Monday, the Gulu Resident Judge, Lady Justice Margaret Mutonyi blamed alcohol as the major factor fueling criminal activities in society, especially murder.
“I have looked through the files; most of these murders are as a result of either domestic violence or alcoholism. People drink and then get excited in a very dangerous manner, and then kill,” she said.
She called on the various leaders to sensitize members of the public from indulging in excessive drinking of alcohol, which is a common indulgence in the Acholi sub-region.
“Alcoholism is responsible for not only these murders but it is also responsible for defilement.
Some do it out of drunkenness. We need to come out and sensitize our young people who are moving with sachets in their bags,” Lady Justice Mutonyi said.
The Judge lamented that alcoholic drinks such as gins which were a preserve only for the rich in the olden days have now become easily accessible and affordable even to “the poorest of the poor” through sachets packaging.
“But it is very expensive in the end because it makes them commit crimes and it ends up making them go behind bars,” she said.
This is the first time in two years that High Court Criminal Sessions is again taking place in the Kitgum Chief Magisterial area that covers Kitgum, Pader, Lamwo and Agago. The last was held in 2014.
A total of 48 criminal cases will be handled during this session expected to last some 40 days.
Lady Justice Mutonyi said her courts would also be conducted on Saturdays in order to ensure 100 % completion of all the cases.
Twenty-eight of the cases are sexual-related offences while 25 of them are aggravated defilement. 17 cases are murders and the remaining three are robberies.
Kitgum Chief Magistrate, His Worship Okongo Japyem commended the judge for holding the High Court session in Kitgum saying it was a big relief for several stakeholders in the judiciary system.
