Labour Officers Urged to Resolve More Disputes Before They Reach Industrial Court

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Industrial Court head Lady Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha has called on Labour Officers to make greater use of mediation and negotiation so that more workplace disputes are settled before reaching court. She made the appeal at the close of a three-day regional capacity-building programme for Labour Officers from Uganda’s Central Region, especially the Kampala Metropolitan Area, held at the Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe.

According to the report, Justice Tumusiime said stronger dispute resolution at labour offices would help reduce pressure on the Industrial Court, improve access to justice, and deliver quicker outcomes for both employees and employers. She urged participants to apply the practical skills gained during the training and said only matters that truly need judicial handling should proceed to court.

The programme was organised by the Judicial Training Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Industrial Court of Uganda. Nile Post also reported that Justice Tumusiime acknowledged support from the International Development Law Organization and praised facilitators and organisers for completing all planned sessions despite a public holiday interruption. She said future trainings should give more attention to communication and organisational culture, which she described as important for effective mediation.

Other judicial officers, including Justice Anthony Wabwire Wejuli and retired Justice Asaph Ruhinda Ntengye, also commended the programme and urged Labour Officers to demonstrate its value in their daily work. Participants took part in a mediation quiz led by Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, who introduced conflict management tools including the SCARF Model. The development matters because administrative settlement of labour disputes can reduce court backlogs and make remedies more accessible.