KAMPALA-The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo asked Prosecutors from all over the country to put more efforts in ensuring that fairness and justice are served in the case before them than registering high number of convictions.
“As the DPP I don’t want convictions because you are paid to deliver Justice, If you lose a case because there was no evidence, you should celebrate that as well. That’s why at the end of month even if you lose all cases, we pay you fully your salary not like lawyers in private practice who are paid according to the cases they won.” Abodo remarked
She commended Prosecutor for the hard work and passion they exhibit in their work as she warned the lazy ones to step up because they will dealt with accordingly.
“We are not only Prosecutors but we are always guardians of justice, the decisions we make in the court room and our offices shape the criminal justice system.i encourage all of you to engage fully in this symposium because the knowledge you get will make you good prosecutors and ultimately Officers of Court.”
She called upon the concerned authorities to increase the number of Prosecutors country wide from 399 because currently one Prosecutor serves four judicial officers which delays justice.
“Thank you my Lord for always be available and ready to sacrifice your time out of your busy schedule to be with us wherever we invite you, as we commemorate 30 years of the ODPP, we honor of those that came before us. We thank partners for always supporting us in a number of ways.”
Hon. Richard Buteera the longest serving DPP who served for 15 years urged Prosecutors to utilize the good policies of the office and independence to deliver Justice to all people.
“The office of the DPP when I joined was under the Ministry of justice and as I was appointed it was made an independent autonomous body. The Netherlands embassy funded the expansion of DPP’s offices , the buildings you see, we started with Law Development Center with training of State Prosecutors from 21 I found in 1993 to 300 in 2013 with about 120 offices all over the country.”
He further asked the Prosecutors to maintain their independence but collaborate with other people because Prosecutorial work involves many stakeholders.
H.E Fredericke Quispel, the Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, who was among the guests at this event, Congratulated ODPP towards its commemoration of its 30 years anniversary because it’s a huge milestone in the justice sector.
“Under the exceptional leadership of Jane Frances Abodo, the first woman DPP, the whole office has been taken to another level. We also have to admire the work of those that came before her since she is standing on the soldiers of the giant.”
She also commended the ODPP have registered success in trial of LRA rebel , Thomas Kwoyelo and break through in the Joan Magezi case that it has not only stopped at making news headlines, it has increased public trust into this office.
Sharon Lesa Nyambe, the head of UNODC Uganda, one of the partners for this office, in her remarks, revealed that she met the DPP (Abodo) for the first time in an online during COVID 19 days , but ever since then her unwavering commitment has never changed.
“She is consistent , humble and we have been working together. According to my observation that we have young legal minds interested in Prosecution work.”
The Prosecutors Annual Prosecutors’ Symposium for 2025 Kicked off at Hotel Africana on Tuesday 27 May 2025 and it will be closing on 29th May 2025. it is running under the theme “Enhancing Collaboration for Effective and Efficient Prosecution”, held at Hotel Africana.
