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Faced with growing case backlog, Kiryandongo asks for more courts
Kiryandongo chief magistrate Abit Samson highlighted the need for more land to build at least three additional court halls to expedite the disposal of cases.
Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe poses for a group photo with Kiryandongo district stakeholders. (Photo by Yosam Gucwaki).
By: Yosam Gucwaki, Journalist @New Vision
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Kiryandongo district stakeholders have called on the Judiciary to expand the Chief Magistrate's Court, citing its inability to handle the overwhelming number of cases.
The request was made during Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi's visit to Kiryandongo on August 26, 2026.
Kiryandongo chief magistrate Abit Samson highlighted the need for more land to build at least three additional court halls to expedite the disposal of cases.
He also noted a critical shortage of interpreters for Arabic, Nuer, Runyankole and Luganda, which significantly hampers service delivery.
Land cases, he added, are rampant due to the district's complex land tenure system.
Abit lauded the mobile court initiative, which provides crucial access to justice for refugees in settlement areas.
Kiryandongo LC5 chairperson Nelson Osaga reported that approximately 180,000 refugees reside in the district, with nearly 70% of cases originating from Bweyale town council.
He advocated for Bweyale to be gazetted with its own magistrate's court and requested capacity building for local councils (LCs) to improve their handling of land matters, thereby reducing court congestion.
Kennedy Owor, a legal officer with the Refugee Law Project, praised mobile courts for demonstrating a "humanitarian heart" and ensuring refugee access to justice.
He urged the deputy chief justice to address challenges such as expired asylum status and the lack of sureties among refugees.
Kiryandongo LC5 chairperson Nelson Osaga reported that approximately 180,000 refugees reside in the district, with nearly 70% of cases originating from Bweyale town council.
He advocated for Bweyale to be gazetted with its own magistrate's court and requested capacity building for local councils (LCs) to improve their handling of land matters, thereby reducing court congestion.
Kennedy Owor, a legal officer with the Refugee Law Project, praised mobile courts for demonstrating a "humanitarian heart" and ensuring refugee access to justice.
He urged the deputy chief justice to address challenges such as expired asylum status and the lack of sureties among refugees.
Owor also called for improved court audibility, prison decongestion, enhanced plea bargaining and vocational training for prisoners to reduce reoffending.
Kiryandongo resident district commissioner Dan Muganga pointed out that the district has 37 ranches allocated to investors, adding that investors sometimes bypass official channels of the Chief Government Valuer, resorting to illegal means of compensation that lead to violent evictions and subsequent court cases.
Muganga also highlighted the challenge of implementing court orders, as his office frequently receives conflicting directives from both courts and ministers.
Justice Kawumi acknowledged Kiryandongo's unique problems, stating that they require local solutions rather than those from Kampala headquarters.
He directed all stakeholders to prepare a joint written report outlining the district's challenges.
He also instructed the chief magistrate to request the Judiciary human resource department to recruit interpreters in the identified missing languages.
The deputy chief justice promised training for local leaders on land matters and an enhancement of plea bargaining to reduce the case backlog.
Kiryandongo resident district commissioner Dan Muganga pointed out that the district has 37 ranches allocated to investors, adding that investors sometimes bypass official channels of the Chief Government Valuer, resorting to illegal means of compensation that lead to violent evictions and subsequent court cases.
Muganga also highlighted the challenge of implementing court orders, as his office frequently receives conflicting directives from both courts and ministers.
Justice Kawumi acknowledged Kiryandongo's unique problems, stating that they require local solutions rather than those from Kampala headquarters.
He directed all stakeholders to prepare a joint written report outlining the district's challenges.
He also instructed the chief magistrate to request the Judiciary human resource department to recruit interpreters in the identified missing languages.
The deputy chief justice promised training for local leaders on land matters and an enhancement of plea bargaining to reduce the case backlog.