The Judiciary has started reviewing the clustering of High Court circuits across Uganda following concerns that the current arrangement has created geographical and administrative challenges affecting access to justice.
The review was initiated during a consultative meeting convened by the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, at the Judiciary headquarters on Thursday.
The meeting focused on assessing the implementation of Statutory Instrument No. 94 of 2023, which introduced the clustering of High Court circuits across the country.
Opening the meeting, Justice Abodo thanked participants for their contribution to the review process and recognised Justice Sarah Langa Siu for preserving institutional knowledge behind the development and implementation of the statutory instrument during her tenure as Chief Registrar.
She said the meeting brought together officers who were directly involved in developing the instrument to ensure that the review benefits from their technical expertise and experience.
Justice Abodo stressed that the process should be objective, evidence-based and guided by geographical realities and administrative practicality.
She explained that the review follows concerns raised during her visits to various High Court circuits, where judicial officers and justice sector stakeholders highlighted challenges faced by litigants under the current clustering arrangement.
According to the Principal Judge, although the statutory instrument was designed to improve access to justice and enhance the efficient administration of the High Court, its implementation has revealed practical challenges requiring reassessment.
Among the concerns raised are those from Rakai District, where stakeholders have questioned why Lyantonde and neighbouring areas fall under the Rakai High Court Circuit despite being geographically closer to Masaka.
Similar proposals have emerged from the Lango and Karamoja sub-regions, with leaders recommending the reassignment of some districts to closer circuits to reduce travel distances, improve accessibility and address security concerns.
Justice Abodo said the Chief Justice directed the review to establish whether the existing High Court circuit arrangements are effectively serving their intended purpose.
The exercise will also consider proposed High Court circuits that have not yet become operational.
The Judiciary will assess several factors, including travel distances for court users, accessibility, infrastructure availability, current and projected caseloads, population served, availability of judicial officers, as well as historical, geographical and legal considerations.
The Judiciary says the review is intended to ensure that High Court circuit boundaries better respond to the needs of citizens while improving the efficiency of justice delivery.
The meeting was attended physically and virtually by senior judicial officers, including Justice Sarah Langa Siu, Chief Registrar Agnes Alum, Registrar of the High Court HW Prossy Katushabe, Registrar for Planning and Development HW John Paul Edoku, Deputy Registrar and Private Legal Secretary to the Chief Registrar Patricia Amoko, Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge Edgar Nyakairu, and Senior Communications Officer Ruth Ashaba.
