The Judiciary has intensified its efforts to reduce the growing backlog of land disputes with the launch of the Land Division’s Land Settlement Fortnight, an initiative expected to resolve hundreds of cases through court-annexed mediation over the next two weeks.
The exercise, officially flagged off this morning by the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, at TWED Towers in Kampala, has cause-listed 519 land cases for mediation, with the Judiciary targeting the settlement of about 270 matters.
The initiative forms part of the Judiciary’s broader strategy to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a faster, less costly and less adversarial means of resolving disputes while easing pressure on the courts.
Launching the fortnight, Lady Justice Abodo said the exercise comes at a critical time for the Land Division, which continues to grapple with one of the heaviest caseloads.
Statistics presented during the launch indicate that the Division registered 1,067 new cases during the third quarter of the Financial Year 2025/2026, bringing the total pending caseload to 7,279 cases as at 31 March 2026. Although 1,363 cases were disposed of during the same period, including 58 through mediation, the Division still carries a backlog of 3,294 cases, representing 45.2 per cent of pending matters.
She said the figures demonstrate the urgent need to expand the use of mediation in resolving land disputes.
The Principal Judge noted that land cases are among the most complex matters handled by the courts because they often involve multiple parties, extensive documentary evidence and deep emotional and social interests. She observed that delayed resolution of such disputes not only affects families and communities but also undermines economic development, discourages investment and weakens public confidence in the justice system.
Lady Justice Abodo commended the Judges, Registrars, mediators and support staff of the Land Division for their continued dedication despite the demanding nature of their work. She also applauded advocates and accredited mediators for partnering with the Judiciary in promoting access to justice through mediation.
She explained that the Settlement Fortnight is being implemented under the Judicature (Court-Annexed Mediation) Rules, 2026, which provide a structured framework for resolving disputes through mediation within 60 days. The Rules also provide for Judiciary-supported mediation services and make mediated settlement agreements enforceable as court orders.
Calling for greater commitment from all justice sector actors, the Principal Judge urged judicial officers to identify suitable cases for mediation, prioritise older matters and remove inactive files that unnecessarily inflate the Division’s pending caseload. She appealed to advocates to guide their clients towards practical settlements instead of prolonged litigation and encouraged mediators to utilise their expertise to help parties reach mutually beneficial agreements.
Then Principal Judge reiterated the Judiciary’s commitment to strengthening the Land Division through improved case management, continuous capacity building, enhanced collaboration with stakeholders and better operational support.
Earlier, the Head of the Land Division, Lady Justice Damalie Lwanga, described mediation as an effective, affordable and relationship-preserving mechanism that enables parties to resolve disputes without undergoing lengthy court proceedings.
She revealed that the Division has cause-listed 519 cases for mediation and hopes to settle about 270 of them during the fortnight. She urged litigants and their advocates to attend mediation sessions in person, participate in good faith and embrace dialogue as a means of achieving lasting solutions.
Lady Justice Lwanga said the Judiciary had adequately prepared for the exercise through an ADR Roundtable held in May and specialised mediation training conducted by the Judicial Training Institute. She thanked the ADR Registry, the Judicial Training Institute and the Judiciary leadership for supporting the initiative, while appreciating the mediators, including the Judges at the Land Division, who volunteered to conduct mediation sessions.
Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, the Focal Judge for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, said mediation remains the most practical response to the Division’s workload, noting that more than 7,000 pending cases are currently being managed by only nine Judges, three Registrars, assisted by eight Research Magistrates and 11 mediators.
He commended mediators for their dedication despite limited resources and called for timely submission of mediation reports to facilitate prompt processing of their payments.
Giving a vote of thanks, Lady Justice Christine Kaahwa thanked the Principal Judge for her continued administrative leadership and support to judicial officers across the country. She said her commitment continues to inspire judicial officers in delivering efficient and people-centred justice and expressed optimism that the Settlement Fortnight would contribute significantly to reducing the backlog of land disputes.
The launch was attended by Heads and Deputy Heads of High Court Divisions, Registrars, Magistrates, mediators and Judiciary staff, underscoring the institution’s collective commitment to strengthening mediation as an effective tool for improving access to justice.
The Land Settlement Fortnight runs until 10 July 2026 and is expected to make a significant contribution to reducing the Division’s backlog and promoting timely, cost-effective, sustainable resolution of land disputes.
Posted 29th, June 2026
