Uganda: 100 Judicial Officers Deployed As Courts Start Hearing 2026 Election Petitions

What the report says

Uganda’s Judiciary has deployed 100 judicial officers to manage 346 election petitions stemming from the 2026 General Elections, according to a report distributed by AllAfrica from Nile Post. The cases are spread across 30 High Court circuits, the Civil Division and 26 Chief Magistrates’ Courts, highlighting the scale of post-election litigation now moving into formal hearings.

The assignments include 48 High Court judges handling 157 petitions and 52 chief magistrates dealing with 189 cases. Hearings before the High Court are scheduled to begin on September 14, 2026, and run through November 13, while petitions before the Chief Magistrates’ Courts are set to start on September 21 and conclude by October 30.

The report says the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, instructed the assigned officers to give the matters priority and avoid other commitments that could disrupt the timetable. She also called for tighter case management, including prompt scheduling, fewer adjournments and strict enforcement of court directions.

Among the busiest venues named in the report are Masaka High Court, the Civil Division, Mukono, Iganga, Mbarara and Wakiso. At the magistrates’ level, Makindye has the largest docket, followed by Kawempe, Nabweru, Mengo and Kira. The hearing schedule suggests the judiciary is treating the petitions as a major electoral dispute process that will temporarily take precedence over routine cases.