Government Seeks to Adopt Buganda’s Alternative Justice System

What the report says

Uganda’s central government is looking to Buganda Kingdom’s traditional dispute-resolution practices as it considers ways to reduce delays in the formal court system. According to Nile Post, officials say the approach could offer a faster, more community-based way to handle minor disputes and ease the country’s growing case backlog.

The report says the discussion focuses in part on Kisekwa Court, a long-running Buganda institution that handles clan and family disputes and operates under the kingdom’s traditional leadership. Buganda officials describe its method as centered on reconciliation, local knowledge and education, rather than simply assigning winners and losers. Government representatives said they have studied the system and believe it may help lower costs for citizens who would otherwise have to pursue matters through formal courts.

To advance the idea, the government has organized an exhibition on Buganda’s alternative justice mechanisms, scheduled for September 10, 2026, at Kololo Independence Grounds. The event is expected to bring together justice officials and Buganda institutions to examine how traditional and formal systems might complement one another. In the article, Buganda’s Attorney General Christopher Bwanika and other kingdom leaders said the aim is to share experience on resolving less serious disputes at community level.

The broader context is Uganda’s continuing debate over access to justice and court congestion. The proposal reflects growing interest in using customary institutions alongside state courts, while keeping formal judicial authority intact.