30 years of 1995 Constitution: Uganda to unveil first landmark cases collection

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Uganda is set to make legal history with the launch of its first-ever compendium (collection of cases) chronicling landmark public interest litigation decisions.

The ground-breaking publication, compiled by the Fidelis Leadership Institute (FLI) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), will be officially launched on October 7, 2025, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution.

Described as a vital tool in advancing constitutionalism, justice, and civic education, the compendium captures 24 pivotal legal decisions that have shaped Uganda’s democratic and legal landscape since 1996.

“This is a compendium of the most notable cases that we feel have had serious constitutional implications and a fundamental impact on the constitutional history and development of the Republic of Uganda,” FLI executive director Pheona Nabasa Wall said in an interview with New Vision Online on September 18, 2025.

Pheona Nabasa Wall, Fidelis Leadership Institute (FLI) executive director addressing the media during the launch at Kololo. (Photo by Barbra Kabahumuza)

“This groundbreaking project marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen access to justice, uphold constitutionalism, advance governance and protect human rights in Uganda,” she added.

Nabasa emphasised that public interest litigation has played a critical role in shaping the nation’s legal identity, particularly in defending the rights of vulnerable communities and holding public institutions accountable.

“Public interest litigation has been a powerful tool in shaping Uganda's democratic journey since 1996. These decisions have expanded constitutional freedoms, safeguarded the rights of vulnerable populations, and held public institutions accountable.

These cases are not just legal precedents, they are the heartbeat of a society striving for fairness, equity and justice,” she said.

“Yet until now, this rich body of jurisprudence has existed in scattered publications and substance,” she noted.

The compendium brings together all the cases in a structured and accessible format, offering summaries, thematic analysis, and expert commentary.

Nabasa noted its importance not just for legal professionals, but also for the wider public.

“It is designed to be user-friendly. Anybody in the general public can use this document,” she explained.

She stressed that the compendium will be a tool that will equip every citizen with the ability and the tools to think critically, make judgments and even institute additional public interest litigation.

“It is about holding leaders accountable and ensuring the law is not confined to courtrooms but becomes a tool for public debate, civic education and reform,” he added.

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Uganda and South Sudan country director Anna Reismann highlighted the democratic significance of public interest litigation under the 1995 Constitution.

“Public interest litigation in Uganda is itself a result of the 1995 Constitution that provides that any person or organization may bring an action against the violation of another person's or group's human rights, and that allows any person to petition the Constitutional Court for the interpretation of the constitution, and this meant a major paradigm shift that came with the constitution,” Reismann said.

She further emphasised that public interest litigation is more than legal theory; it’s a reflection of Uganda’s evolving democratic reality.

“The study of the public interest litigation cases is also a study of the shaping of the constitutional practice and reality in the country, as opposed to the constitutional theory or ideas,” Reismann noted.

She explained that public interest litigation is also a deeply democratic instrument as it is meant to serve in the interest of the public and in the protection of human rights, constitutional freedoms and social justice.

Reismann said the compendium offers a powerful reflection of Uganda’s legal, political, and social evolution, underscoring how strategic litigation has contributed to the nation’s development.