news 19 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Constitutional Petition Challenges Legality of Uganda's LC Courts
A group of lawyers has filed a petition in the Constitutional Court seeking to nullify Local Council courts, claiming their political composition and structure violate Uganda's Constitution. The challengers argue that these courts undermine judicial independence and fair hearing rights. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/petition-seeks-to-nullify-lc-courts-over-constitutional-breach-claims-5429326
A new constitutional petition targets the Local Council (LC) courts in Uganda, questioning their legal standing under the country’s supreme law.
Filed on April 16 by lawyer Michael Aboneka, Martins Kirya, and the Walezi Wa Katiba Foundation, the case argues that LC courts, created by the Local Council Courts Act, fall outside the Constitution’s judicial framework. The petitioners highlight violations of Articles 126 and 151, asserting these courts are not proper subordinate courts.
Key concerns include the courts’ makeup of political leaders rather than trained judges, which they say erodes separation of powers and judicial independence. “They are political administrative units whose composition is purely of political officials,” the petition notes.
The group criticizes the lack of legal qualifications for LC members and their authority over complex land disputes, which could lead to unfair outcomes. They also challenge Section 15(2) of the Act, which prohibits advocate representation, calling it a breach of Article 28’s fair hearing guarantees.
The petitioners seek declarations that LC courts contravene Articles 2, 21, 26, 28, 126, 128, and 151, along with orders to strike down inconsistent law provisions and reserve judicial power for recognized courts.
The Attorney General is the sole respondent and has not responded yet, with no hearing date set. This comes as LC leaders’ terms have expired amid plans for new elections.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)