Judicial Training Institute Director Calls for Faster Resolution of Labour Disputes

What the report says

Judicial Training Institute Executive Director Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha has urged quicker handling of labour disputes, saying delays in workplace grievance resolution can hurt livelihoods, reduce productivity and weaken investor confidence. He linked stronger labour justice to Uganda’s broader economic goals, including the country’s target of becoming a $500 billion economy by 2040.

Khaukha made the remarks virtually at the opening of a four-day training for labour officers from Uganda’s Central Region at Protea Hotel in Entebbe. He spoke on his own behalf and for JTI Governing Council Chairperson Justice Mike Chibita, and said the institute wants to help the Industrial Court and labour officers manage disputes before they turn into lengthy litigation. He also praised Industrial Court head Lady Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha for leading a nationwide capacity-building effort.

In her keynote address, Tumusiime Mugisha said labour officers play a crucial role in giving workers and employers access to justice at the first point of contact. She noted that unresolved disputes over dismissal, discrimination or collective bargaining can escalate into strikes or lockouts and disrupt business operations. She said the Industrial Court has handled more than 8,000 cases since 2014, with many arriving through labour officers, and argued that better first-instance handling could ease pressure on the court.

The training focuses on conciliation, mediation, adjudication, record-keeping and consistent procedures. Khaukha also called for continued innovation, annual reviews of the programme and support from the International Development Law Organization to help assess whether the initiative is reducing backlogs and improving labour dispute resolution.