Kampala, Uganda: Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has pledged to resolve the escalating judicial crisis in Masaka High Court Circuit, thanks to high-level talks held with the leadership of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) over the ongoing sit-down strike by legal practitioners in the region.
The meeting, held Friday, June 20, at the Chief Justice’s chambers at the Supreme Court in Kampala, brought together top Judiciary officials and the ULS Council to discuss access to justice, case backlog, and the handling of bail applications, particularly in the troubled Regional High Court circuit.
Led by Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, the ULS delegation that included Treasurer Arthur Isiko and council members Emmanuel Omiat Egaru (Northern), Samuel Muhumuza (Western), and Eddie Nangulu (Eastern) raised alarm over the Judiciary’s slow response to pre-trial detainees and the delayed scheduling of bail hearings, which they say continue to erode public confidence in the justice system.
In response to their queries, CJ Owiny-Dollo confirmed that a set of immediate interventions had already been rolled out to decongest the docket and address the concerns raised by the Masaka legal fraternity.
“The Judiciary had already initiated a number of strategic measures to reduce the case backlog in Masaka prior to the ULS sit-down strike,” Owiny-Dollo said, as quoted by the ULS in a June 25 Press Statement. “These include the allocation of two criminal sessions in the current financial year, one of which concluded with 40 cases disposed of, while the other is ongoing.”
The Chief Justice, according to ULS, also told the delegation that a Plea Bargain Camp is scheduled to start on June 30, with support from two High Court judges from other circuits.
Over 100 inmates have registered for participation. In addition, four more criminal sessions have been lined up for the first quarter of FY2025/26, to be handled by external judges so that Resident Judges can focus on civil matters.
The Judiciary also announced that the Rakai High Court is set to be operationalized in the next financial year as part of efforts to strengthen justice delivery in Greater Masaka.
The Radical New Bar (as the ULS is popularly known) welcomed the developments but maintained pressure on the Judiciary to ensure consistent and timely access to justice. “The ULS continues to demand that the Judiciary confront delays in pre-trial processes, especially bail, which remain a persistent concern,” said Anthony Asiimwe, ULS Vice President.
“We appreciate the Judiciary’s willingness to engage constructively and take action, but what the people of Masaka need now is urgent relief, not bureaucratic comfort,” the Lawyers’ body asserted.
Meanwhile, the Acting Principal Judge, Hon. Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, pledged to compile an inventory of all bail applications that have been pending in the High Court for over three months without being allocated hearing dates.
Both parties agreed to continue collaborative engagement through a Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) stakeholders meeting to address systemic barriers to justice, including infrastructure gaps and judicial manpower.
The Chief Justice reaffirmed the Judiciary’s openness to dialogue and emphasized that constructive engagement with the Bar is essential for justice delivery.
“The Judiciary remains firmly committed to responsive, efficient, and people-centered justice,” Owiny-Dollo noted. “We shall not allow procedural fatigue or systemic inertia to deny justice to Ugandans.”
The development comes barely a week after the Uganda Law Society’s Greater Masaka RNB Chapter filed a formal resolution to the ULS Council, vowing not to resume court work until their longstanding grievances were addressed.
In the resolution, submitted last week, the Masaka-based advocates led by their Chairperson, Mr Alexander Lule, cited persistent delays in the disposal of cases, especially criminal matters, prolonged remand periods for accused persons, and a general lack of judicial responsiveness as key concerns fueling the sit-down.
The Masaka Chapter’s bold stance drew national attention, pressuring the ULS leadership to escalate the matter to the Chief Justice and demand immediate institutional action.
DailyExpress understands that a follow-up meeting between the Judiciary and ULS is expected in the coming weeks to evaluate progress on the resolutions.
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