Experts Push for Higher Shs200m Limit on Magistrates' Jurisdiction to Ease High Court Backlog

Legal stakeholders have called for an urgent review of magistrates’ pecuniary jurisdiction in Uganda, proposing a raise from the current Shs50 million to Shs200 million. Senior advocate Denis Kusaasira highlighted how this outdated threshold forces even straightforward land disputes—often valued at Shs200 million for small plots—into the overburdened High Court.

Speaking at the JSC Conversations hosted by Elison Karuhanga, Kusaasira noted the High Court faces over 50,000 pending cases, with waits stretching up to 10 years. “Increasing jurisdiction is key to timely justice,” he emphasized, while stressing the need to retain magistrate ranks for handling complex matters based on experience.

The Annual Judicial Report 2025 reveals stark pressures on lower courts: of 167,353 pending cases, 49% are pre-hearing, 47% under hearing, and others await judgment. Kusaasira warned that without careful planning, expanding powers could overload magistrates’ courts, already managing most cases, and erode public trust, driving people to informal resolutions.

This push aligns with broader reforms, including Chief Justice Flavian Zeija’s recent advocacy for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in family matters. Zeija urged mediation first—via elders, religious leaders, or accredited professionals—before courts intervene, noting 90% of Ugandan disputes already resolve outside formal systems for faster, cheaper outcomes.

In family divisions, mediation is now mandatory for issues like divorce, property, custody, and maintenance to preserve relationships.

Source: Daily Monitor