Govt asked to establish center for gender based violence victims
The acting principal judge Justice Musa Ssekana also indicated that the sector is working to provide clarity on what offences fall under the category of SGBV.
Key players in the dispensation of justice in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases are calling upon the Ugandan government to establish a one-stop centre where victims can access all services at once.
Currently, evidence is gathered from different parts of the country but by the time it reaches processing centres such as government analytical laboratories, police stations and courts, it has already lost value.
According to Kizumula Mubiru, the acting director of forensics in the Uganda Police Force, if there was a one-stop centre stakeholders in the criminal justice system such as police, judiciary and prosecution could easily meet and do everything in one place, hence leading to evidence having greater value.
“Such a centre would enable victims to report cases to the police, have collections from SGBV victims examined in a laboratory and have the witness testify in court, all in one place when the evidence is still afresh l,” he said.
Mubiru made these remarks during the launch of phase 6 of SGBV cases.
Meanwhile, the acting principal judge Justice Musa Ssekana also indicated that the sector is working to provide clarity on what offences fall under the category of SGBV.
The ultimate goal of the special sessions is to facilitate the disposal of SGBV cases through the justice system in adherence to set standards and norms.
