Shortage of Judicial Officers Blamed for Court Case Delays

What the report says

Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has said Uganda’s courts are facing rising case backlogs because there are too few judicial officers to handle the workload. He made the remarks on September 29 during an open court day at the Iganga High Court Circuit, where he said judges and magistrates are dealing with heavy caseloads despite limited time and resources.

Zeija pointed to Iganga High Court as an example, saying the resident judge is handling 1,322 cases alone. He argued that even working weekends and public holidays would not allow that judge to clear most of the docket. The Chief Justice said the situation reflects a broader strain on the Judiciary as more cases continue to come in across the country.

He also used the event to call for stronger action against brokers operating around court premises, saying they mislead and exploit members of the public seeking justice. In addition, he urged judicial officers to be cautious when granting bail so that suspects do not interfere with investigations.

The meeting included concerns from local leaders and residents about land and criminal cases. Iganga RDC Eric Sewandingi asked for more sensitisation of local council leaders, while residents described long delays in land disputes. One woman said her case had lasted 15 years, illustrating the frustration many court users say they face. Separately, Zeija called on district security teams to profile money lenders, a step he said could help identify fraudulent practices.