In a unanimous decision, the Parliament of Uganda has given the green light to increase the number of High Court judges from the current 83 to 151. The move comes in response to the growing need to address case backlogs and expedite the judicial process in the country. The motion was proposed by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Hon. Norbert Mao, who highlighted the escalating criminality and civil disputes, resulting in an overwhelming demand for judiciary services.

Hon. Norbert Mao defended his motion, stating that the rise in population and crime rates has put immense pressure on the court system, leading to an acute case backlog. The High Court, having unlimited original jurisdiction in all matters and additional appellate jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution or the Judicature Act, is now faced with a considerable workload.

The situation is further exacerbated by the overflow of commercial disputes in courts, which has a detrimental effect on the economy and hampers the ease of doing business in Uganda. Currently, over Shs8 trillion is held up in court due to unresolved disputes, hindering the flow of funds into the economy.

The Parliament’s decision to increase the number of High Court judges was met with widespread support from Members of Parliament (MPs). Hon. Abdallah Kiwanuka, representing NUP from Mukono County North, called on the government to amend the Judicature Act to increase the financial jurisdiction of magistrate courts. He highlighted that the current limit of Shs50 million for matters handled by magistrate courts burdens the High Court with numerous small claims.

Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, stressed the importance of having an adequate number of judges to achieve value for money, especially following the recent enactment of the Administration of the Judiciary Act, which increased the allocation to the Judiciary.

Hon. Bosco Okiror, the MP for Usuk County, emphasized the need for a swift dispensation of justice, particularly in criminal cases. He advocated for criminal cases to be handled in a manner similar to civil cases to ensure a fair and timely judicial process.

The decision to increase the number of High Court judges was made in accordance with Article 138(b) of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to determine the required number of judges to facilitate the efficient dispensation of justice.

With the approval of the motion, the Ugandan judiciary aims to ease case backlogs, improve efficiency, and provide timely resolution of disputes, ultimately promoting a more robust legal system that positively impacts the country’s economy and overall ease of doing business.

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