“This judgment risks legitimizing Uganda’s well-documented record of torture instead of eradicating it,” Asiimwe said, adding that the ruling prioritized the completion of criminal trials over the absolute prohibition of torture.
The DNA testing process was conducted by government forensic experts and overseen by Minister Balaam Barugahara. Also present during the release of the results were the Police Forensic Directorate and the Government Analytical Laboratory, including Director Andrew Mubiru and Kepher Kuchana Kateu.
“The Judiciary is currently grappling with a significant case backlog, with more than 200,000 pending cases as of March 2026. The Judiciary is therefore implementing reforms such as Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, increased use of ICT in court processes, and expansion of court infrastructure to improve efficiency,” Abodo said.