ABIM – In a first of its kind, Justice Wilson Masalu Musene, the Resident Judge of Soroti High Court on Thursday held a High Court hearing in a fully packed Abim Court in which he heard the evidence of three defendant witnesses.
The holding of the Court within Abim Town Council exceedingly excited the people and the local leaders who applauded the Judge for the initiative of bringing the High Court to sit in Abim and afford the residents a chance to experience the High Court as compared to the costly travels to Soroti — about 125km away.
He, thereafter, visited locus in quo in a case where the ownership of land hosting Abim Town Council Offices, Water Office, ADRA, LAP-Abim, part of Abim Police Station and a host of residents of Abim Town Council is being disputed by a one Achen Rose.
He moved around the suit land together with the parties, their witnesses and Counsel as well as the residents of the area who had thronged Court for a feel of the High Court sitting. The judge fixed the matter for judgment on February 3, 2021 at Abim Court.
Thereafter, Justice Musene proceeded to Amita Prison Farm for an inspection and interaction with the 507 inmates, most of whom serving their sentences. The prison owns and carries out mechanized cotton and maize farming on its huge chunk of land.
He was accompanied by HW Aisu Nicholas, Magistrate Grade One Abim, Mr. Angulipa Patrick, the Resident State Prosecutor, Anena Clare Lagoro, Legal Officer, LAP- Abim, ASP Mafuko, the OC Abim Police Station and Mr. Chuma Dickinson, the Court Clerk/Interpreter,
The Abim District Chain-linked Committee commended the gesture of the Judge for handling the matter in Abim.
“We thank His Lordship for the hearing of this specific matter in Abim thereby cutting travel costs for the parties and their witnesses and for the candid atmosphere he created during the hearing and locus in quo visit. We also thank the Hon Judge for visiting and interacting with the inmates as well as the counsel he offered to them. We look forward to receiving you again in North Karamoja,” HW Aisu who spoke on behalf of the DCC said.
