Labour Officers Tasked to Boost Dispute Resolution at Lower Levels

Labour Officers across Uganda are being urged to become more adept at resolving workplace disputes before they escalate to the Industrial Court. This call to action comes from Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha, the Head of the Industrial Court, who emphasized the importance of strengthening mediation and negotiation at the administrative level.

Speaking at a capacity-building workshop in Entebbe for Labour Officers from the Central Region, Justice Tumusiime highlighted that increased success in lower-level dispute resolution would significantly ease the pressure on the Industrial Court. This, in turn, promises to improve access to justice and ensure quicker outcomes for both employees and employers.

The training program, a collaboration between the Judicial Training Institute, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and the Industrial Court, was praised for its effectiveness. Justice Tumusiime commended the participants for their engagement and noted the valuable contributions of facilitators who shared practical knowledge and experiences. She specifically pointed out the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) for its ongoing support in advancing labour justice.

Justice Tumusiime also underscored the need to focus on communication and organizational culture as critical components of successful mediation. She challenged the Labour Officers to actively apply the skills and knowledge gained during the training in their daily work, aiming for a noticeable reduction in cases brought before the Industrial Court. The goal is for only the most complex or unresolved disputes to reach the judicial level.

Retired Judge Asaph Ruhinda Ntengye and Industrial Court Judge Anthony Wabwire Wejuli also graced the event, reiterating the importance of the training and encouraging participants to demonstrate its impact. A notable segment included a mediation quiz and a session on the SCARF Model, introduced by Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, to help officers better understand and manage conflict triggers related to status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness.

This push for enhanced mediation at the labour office level is expected to lead to a more efficient and effective justice system for Uganda’s workforce. The source article can be found at https://nilepost.co.ug/news/360426/labour-officers-urged-to-resolve-more-disputes-before-they-reach-industrial-court.