RDCs, politicians interfering in execution of court orders — report
Oct 13, 2024
The annual performance report for the financial year 2023/24 also pointed out unnamed members of the armed forces standing in litigants’ way of enforcing some of the court orders.

The Judiciary's annual report provides a comprehensive overview of the performance of courts and departments, and the challenges faced in the delivery of services. (New Vison file)

Umaru Kashaka
Journalist @New Vision
"Highly placed people", including resident district commissioners (RDCs) and “impudent politicians”, are interfering in execution of court orders across the country, the latest Judiciary report has said.
The annual performance report for the financial year 2023/24 also pointed out unnamed members of the armed forces standing in litigants’ way of enforcing some of the court orders.
“The litigants have been unable to enforce some of the court orders due to refusal to respect the court process, and interference in the execution process by highly placed people, especially RDCs, members of the armed forces and impudent politicians,” it said.
Article 128(3) of the Constitution requires every organ and agency of Government to respect judicial decisions and support the Judiciary to achieve its mandate.
The annual report provides a comprehensive overview of the performance of courts and departments in the Judiciary over the past financial year and the challenges faced in the delivery of services.
In March 2022, President Yoweri Museveni banned all land evictions in the country that are carried out without the consent of the respective District Security Committees (DSCs) chaired by the RDCs/RCCs and direct consultation with the lands minister.
The President warned that if this was not done and the illegal evictions went ahead, the members of the DSC would all be held responsible and action would be taken against them.
This, however, excludes the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) representatives who may not be in the know of the substance of the issues involved.
'Vexatious litigations'
In its report, the Judiciary also reported that it had encountered “a breed of advocates and litigants who exhibit tendencies of corruption, make misleading complaints, and indulge in illegal alternatives to court procedure”.
It said some litigants are fond of attacking judicial officers over social media and making endless applications and filing multiple suits, rather than following the due process.
“This has escalated the case backlog," said the report.
"The Judiciary will put in place stringent measures to address vexatious litigations, as well as lazy legal representatives and litigants. The Judiciary has adopted stern measures against these saboteurs, which range from fines to hefty jail terms."
The Judiciary also said it had received reports of corruption tendencies within the communities and around the courts, impeding access to court services.
“These tendencies include court clerks giving wrong dates or hiding case files, middlemen extorting money allegedly to influence bail or judgement decisions, refusal to serve court notices, proceedings, judgements, or orders, and making wrong translations.”