Govt to train LC courts amid rise in PDM-linked domestic violence
“We have a big challenge with PDM money. Women get the PDM money, and their husbands take it. There is a lot of misunderstanding happening in communities, and some women do not know where to run to,” Namarome said.
Namarome said many community members, and even some local leaders, remain unclear about the jurisdiction of LC courts, leaving victims unsure where to seek help and sometimes resulting in cases being taken to the wrong institutions.
The government has launched a targeted training programme for local council (LC) courts to combat a reported surge in gender-based violence linked to disputes over Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
The initiative involves a partnership between the Ministry of Local Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative comes amid reports from several districts that the rollout of PDM has triggered high-tension dynamics within households, as some men clash with their partners over the control of financial payouts.
Sandra Namarome, project coordinator for the UNDP-supported Spotlight Initiative 2.0, said the influx of funds has exposed vulnerabilities in communities where household power structures remain unaddressed.
“We have a big challenge with PDM money. Women get the PDM money, and their husbands take it. There is a lot of misunderstanding happening in communities, and some women do not know where to run to,” she said.
Officials said some of the disputes have escalated into serious violence. In one recent case highlighted during the briefing, a woman allegedly had her hand severed by her husband after she refused to surrender her PDM disbursement.
The incidents come against a broader national concern over domestic violence and its potentially fatal consequences.
According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, recorded domestic violence cases declined by 12.2% from 14,073 in 2024 to 12,361 in 2025.
However, domestic violence-related murders increased by 13.7%, rising from 183 in 2024 to 208 in 2025.
Statistics from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development indicate that one in five women in Uganda continues to experience gender-based violence.
The programme is aimed at strengthening the first line of justice by equipping council members with practical knowledge of their legal mandate, case management, record-keeping and handling of sensitive cases, particularly those involving children, land and domestic violence.
Namarome said many community members, and even some local leaders, remain unclear about the jurisdiction of LC courts, leaving victims unsure where to seek help and sometimes resulting in cases being taken to the wrong institutions.
She said the training would clarify which disputes LC courts can handle and which cases must be immediately referred to the police, health facilities or other competent institutions.
To make the training accessible to local leaders with varying literacy levels, the learning materials have been converted into animated digital modules featuring talking characters.
The modules have also been localised into indigenous languages, including Acholi, Alur and Lugbara. Participants are enrolled on a digital platform where they undertake the modules, complete self-assessments and receive certificates.
The training is expected to reach about 190 participants across 50 model LC courts. It is being implemented alongside the provision of essential toolkits and equipment to improve case handling and accountability.
Namarome also emphasised that GBV should not be viewed exclusively as a women's issue.
“Justice is for all; it is not about only women. We are here to have justice for everybody."
Joan Uwamaria, a communication official at the local government ministry, said the intervention was timely because many LC leaders had recently assumed office.
She said equipping the leaders early in their tenure would enable them to identify disputes early, respond appropriately and refer serious cases before they escalate into tragedy.
LC courts
Local council courts are community-based legal bodies established under the Local Council Courts Act, 2006, to administer justice at the grassroots level in Uganda.
They operate as subordinate courts to the formal judiciary, including Magistrates’ Courts, and focus on resolving disputes within communities through mediation, conciliation and, where applicable, customary law.
The courts handle minor civil matters and customary disputes, including cases involving customary land, dowry and trespass.
They also deal with petty criminal offences such as minor assault and theft of small items, as well as breaches of local council bye-laws.
Unlike formal courts, these courts use simplified and less technical procedures intended to make justice more accessible and affordable at community level. Their approach places emphasis on mediation, reconciliation and restoring relationships rather than punishment alone.
At village and parish level, the court comprises all members of the executive committee, with the chairperson of the Executive Committee serving as the chairperson of the court.
At least five members must be present to constitute a quorum for hearing a case.
The law also provides for gender inclusion in the composition of local council courts, requiring at least two women to serve on every court.
Court members are required to be residents of the area in which they serve, of sound mind and free from convictions for offences involving dishonesty or moral turpitude. They are not required to have formal legal qualifications.
Appeals from Local Council Courts follow the established hierarchy, moving from the lower-level courts through the relevant higher Local Council Court and ultimately to the Chief Magistrate’s Court.