Judiciary Reviews High Court Circuit Boundaries to Improve Access to Justice

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Uganda’s Judiciary has begun reassessing High Court circuit boundaries after concerns that the current clustering is creating practical barriers for some court users. The review was initiated at a consultative meeting held at Judiciary headquarters on Thursday and convened by Principal Judge Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo.

According to the report, the meeting examined the implementation of Statutory Instrument No. 94 of 2023, which set up the current clustering of High Court circuits. Justice Abodo said officials involved in designing and implementing the instrument were brought together so the process could draw on technical knowledge and institutional memory. She urged that any changes be guided by evidence, geography and administrative practicality.

Nile Post says the review follows issues raised during the Principal Judge’s visits to High Court circuits, where judicial officers and justice-sector stakeholders cited difficulties experienced by litigants. Examples include concerns from Rakai District about Lyantonde and nearby areas being placed under the Rakai circuit despite their proximity to Masaka. Similar reassignment proposals have reportedly been raised in the Lango and Karamoja sub-regions, with arguments linked to distance, access and security.

The review, reportedly directed by the Chief Justice, will consider whether the existing boundaries are meeting their intended purpose and will also look at proposed High Court circuits that are not yet operational. Factors under assessment include travel distances, infrastructure, caseloads, population coverage, judicial staffing, and historical, geographical and legal considerations. The process matters because circuit boundaries affect how easily people can reach courts and how efficiently the High Court can administer justice across Uganda.