Judiciary Launches Two-Week Mediation Drive for 500 Land Cases

The High Court Land Division is set to roll out a focused two-week mediation drive from June 22 to July 3, 2026. The primary objective of this exercise is to resolve close to 500 pending land-related disputes, reflecting the Judiciary’s ongoing strategy to combat a mounting case backlog.

Justice Damali Lwanga, head of the Land Division, highlighted that the decision to intensify mediation efforts is directly influenced by the increasing success rates observed in previously mediated cases. “The success mediation cases and their completion rates, coupled with the 477 pending causes, has informed our decision and we hope for a successful settlement,” Justice Lwanga stated.

While the establishment of High Court circuits in Entebbe and Wakiso has eased some pressure, the Land Division continues to manage a substantial caseload. At the beginning of the 2025/2026 financial year, the division had 8,930 pending land matters, with 243 designated for mediation. Since then, an additional 3,692 cases have been filed, and 655 of these have been referred to mediation.

Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo emphasized that mediation is particularly well-suited for land disputes, given the sensitive nature of these conflicts that often involve familial and community ties. Supreme Court Justice Mike Chibita further elaborated that land conflicts directly impact livelihoods and social harmony, making restorative approaches like mediation crucial for preserving relationships where possible.

The Judiciary’s embrace of mediation and other ADR mechanisms is part of broader reforms to expedite justice and reduce the substantial backlog of 167,353 cases across all court levels, with over 46,000 classified as backlog.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/judiciary-targets-500-land-cases-in-mediation-drive-5472110