JUDICIARY Latest Features

The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, has officially opened a Court of Appeal civil session in Fort Portal and called for stronger cooperation between the Bench and the Bar, greater uptake of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and sustained efforts to improve access to justice.

The two-day session, which commenced yesterday and concluded today, June 18, 2026, heard a total of 30 civil appeals before a panel comprising Lady Justice Eva Luswata, Justice John Mike Musisi and Justice Musa Ssekaana.

Speaking during his maiden stakeholders’ engagement since assuming office, Justice Kazibwe thanked members of the Bar and other stakeholders for their congratulatory messages following his appointment and expressed appreciation for their continued cooperation with the Judiciary.

He noted that the Court of Appeal’s regional sessions are intended to take appellate services closer to the people and reduce the financial burden on litigants who previously had to travel to Kampala to pursue appeals.

The Deputy Chief Justice also informed stakeholders that the Judiciary had experienced a significant reduction in its proposed budget allocation for the new financial year. While acknowledging that some planned activities would be affected, he assured participants that Judiciary management was taking measures to ensure courts across the country continue operating despite financial constraints.

Addressing the relationship between the Judiciary and the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Justice Kazibwe emphasized the need for continuous dialogue and cooperation.

“ULS and the Bench are actually twins; none can work well without cooperating with the other. On our side, we want to see a very smooth working relationship between us,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to address concerns affecting either institution through established communication channels and cautioned against public confrontations.

On mediation, Justice Kazibwe welcomed the Uganda Law Society’s efforts to resolve some of its disputes through mediation and urged legal practitioners to lead by example in promoting amicable settlement of disputes.

“The truth is it will be ridiculous for lawyers and the Judiciary to fail to mediate. If we are urging all others to mediate, we will not fail, and we all know the benefits of mediating,” he remarked.

He encouraged lawyers to continue promoting mediation, plea bargaining and other ADR mechanisms, noting that they enable disputes to be resolved more quickly, ease pressure on the courts, and allow judicial officers to concentrate on matters requiring adjudication.

Justice Kazibwe also welcomed the contribution of religious leaders in Fort Portal to mediation efforts and encouraged greater participation by clergy, imams and other faith leaders in ADR initiatives.

Responding to concerns raised about delays in the disposal of appeals, including a matter handled during the session that was filed in 2012, the Deputy Chief Justice acknowledged the challenge and observed that prolonged litigation often deprives litigants of the benefits of timely justice.

On infrastructure development, he commended the Chairperson of Kabarole District for pledging land for the construction of a Regional Court of Appeal and noted that a permanent presence in the region would improve access to appellate services and respond to growing caseloads.

Justice Kazibwe further highlighted broader justice sector challenges, including staffing gaps in institutions such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and stressed the need for all justice sector agencies to grow together in order to enhance service delivery.

Earlier, the Head of Fort Portal High Court Circuit, Justice Vincent Emmy Mugabo, congratulated the Deputy Chief Justice upon his appointment, describing it as recognition of his distinguished service and commitment to justice.

Justice Mugabo reported that Fort Portal High Court Circuit currently has 1,197 pending cases, including 413 backlog cases. He noted that some matters would be transferred to Chief Magistrates’ Courts following amendments to the Magistrates Courts Act and that the court was awaiting guidelines from the Chief Justice on the transfer process.

He observed that more than 90 per cent of cases handled by the Circuit involve family disputes, particularly estate distribution matters, which present significant potential for mediation. However, he noted that ADR uptake remains low due to inadequate mediator training, limited public awareness, resistance by parties, and a deeply entrenched litigation culture.

Justice Mugabo also highlighted challenges in criminal justice, revealing that 393 suspects have been committed to the High Court for trial, while Fort Portal Main Prison currently accommodates 1,634 inmates despite having a capacity of only 317.

He appealed for support to conduct additional criminal sessions to reduce prison congestion and also raised concerns about overcrowding at the Fort Portal Remand Home, which serves juveniles from the wider region, including Mubende and Mbarara.

Other challenges cited included inadequate court infrastructure, delays in completing ongoing renovations, the need for fencing, staffing gaps, lack of human resource personnel, and insufficient State Attorneys, which continue to delay criminal proceedings.

Representing the Attorney General’s Chambers, Ms Anne Tusiime, Regional Head of the Attorney General’s Chambers in Fort Portal, reported that staffing levels at the regional office had increased from five to eight State Attorneys serving thirteen districts in the Rwenzori region and parts of Ntoroko District.

She welcomed the Court of Appeal session as a demonstration of the Judiciary’s commitment to taking services closer to the people and disclosed that one long-standing appeal filed in 2012 had already been disposed of during the session.

Ms Tusiime also commended the growing use of ADR, revealing that mediation in a long-running dispute involving Fort Portal City Council was progressing positively and that a report on the outcome would soon be submitted to court.

Representing the Uganda Law Society, Mr Samuel Muhumuza expressed concern over delayed hearing of appeals, noting that some cases have remained pending for more than a decade. He called for prioritization of matters involving the Society and disclosed that several of them were currently undergoing mediation under the guidance of Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo.

He further raised concerns about prolonged pre-trial detention of political prisoners and urged the Judiciary to continue safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring timely trials.

Mr Muhumuza commended the Judiciary for embracing digital transformation and paperless court systems but called for improvements to make the systems more accessible to litigants without legal representation or access to technology.

The Chairperson of Kabarole District, Mr Ruben Kimome, pledged to provide land for the construction of a Regional Court of Appeal.

The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by judicial officers, representatives of the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Attorney General’s Chambers, advocates, district leaders, religious leaders, and other justice sector actors.

The meeting was moderated by HW Faisal Umar Mulalira, Private Legal Secretary to the Deputy Chief Justice.