Politics 3 April 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Parliament Passes Bill to Boost Magistrates' Financial Limits and Court Efficiency
Uganda's Parliament has approved the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026, raising civil jurisdiction limits for magistrates to ease High Court backlogs and enhance access to justice. The reforms abolish grade II magistrates, empower case transfers, and update outdated thresholds amid inflation. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4324/new-law-increase-magistrates-financial-jurisdiction
Parliament has passed the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026, awaiting presidential assent to reform lower courts. The legislation targets High Court congestion by expanding magistrates’ handling capacity.
Key changes include doubling chief magistrates’ civil jurisdiction from Shs50 million to Shs100 million, and raising magistrates’ limit from Shs20 million to Shs50 million. Earlier proposals suggested up to Shs200 million or Shs300 million for chief magistrates, but the committee settled on figures backed by Judiciary data.
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Chairperson, Hon. Stephen Baka Mugabi, noted that 2007 limits were eroded by inflation, pushing minor cases to the High Court and creating delays.
The Bill eliminates the obsolete Magistrate Grade II position, aligning the law with the Judiciary’s structure. It also allows chief magistrates to transfer misfiled cases rather than dismiss them, cutting refiling costs and delays.
Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka endorsed the reforms, citing empirical Judiciary evidence to support the updated thresholds.
These updates aim to streamline procedures, boost sentencing powers, and deliver justice closer to communities.
Source: Parliament of Uganda