Members of Parliament have raised serious concerns about the severe understaffing at the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which is currently operating at just 38% of its required workforce. The situation has worsened following the retirement of 105 staff members in 2024, further delaying justice delivery.

The issue came to light during a meeting between the Public Accounts Committee and ODPP officials, held in response to findings from the 2023/24 Auditor General’s report. The report disclosed that, although the ODPP is supposed to have 1,482 employees, only 577 positions are filled, leaving a staggering 905 vacancies. Among the key unfilled roles is that of the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in charge of Prosecutions.

Mawogola South MP Gorreth Namugga called the situation unacceptable.

“The fact that only 577 out of 1,482 positions are filled is alarming. We have discussed this issue before, yet nothing has changed. This is a matter that cannot wait for bureaucratic processes; it must be addressed in plenary as it directly affects the administration of justice,” she stated.

Tororo District Woman Representative Sarah Opendi questioned why the ODPP had failed to implement recommendations from the Auditor General to reallocate resources for urgent recruitment. She highlighted that, despite the retirement of 105 staff members, UGX 2.7 billion in unspent salary funds was returned to the Consolidated Fund instead of being used to hire replacements.

“With the current unemployment levels, how can ODPP justify returning unused salary funds instead of recruiting staff? The office should anticipate retirements and plan accordingly to ensure continuity. What steps are being taken ahead of the 2025/26 financial year to prevent a repeat of this situation?” Opendi inquired.

Agnes Kainza, ODPP’s Permanent Secretary, acknowledged the staffing crisis, noting that many of the 128 prosecution stations across the country are severely overstretched.

“In most stations, a single officer is handling multiple cases across different districts. We have repeatedly requested additional funding from the Ministry of Finance to recruit more personnel, but our requests have not been approved,” Kainza explained.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions George William Byansi urged Parliament to intervene, emphasizing that the only viable solution is to allocate funds for recruitment.

“The manpower crisis will persist unless Parliament steps in to address the staffing gap,” Byansi warned.

The ODPP also faced scrutiny over its performance and resource management. According to the Auditor General’s report, despite receiving UGX 23 billion to process 5,000 case files for committal to the High Court, only 1,996 cases were completed raising questions about efficiency and accountability.