The Judiciary has issued fresh guidance to the public, litigants, advocates and court users following the enactment of the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026, which significantly revises the pecuniary jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts in Uganda.
In a statement dated May 20, 2026 and signed by Chief Registrar Agnes Alum, the Judiciary said the amendments to Section 206 of the Magistrates Courts Act are intended to improve the administration of justice, enhance efficiency in case management and reduce unnecessary delays in the court system.
Under the revised law, a Chief Magistrate now has jurisdiction to hear and determine civil matters valued at up to Shs200 million, while a Magistrate has jurisdiction over civil matters valued at up to Shs100 million.
“The Judiciary informs the general public, litigants, advocates and all court users that following the enactment of the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026, the pecuniary jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts has been revised,” the statement read.
“The public is hereby advised to file civil, land and commercial cases in the appropriate Magistrates Courts in accordance with the revised pecuniary jurisdiction to promote efficient administration of justice and avoid unnecessary delays in the transition process.”
Court users seeking clarification have also been encouraged to seek guidance from respective court registries across the country.
The amendments form part of broader judicial reforms aimed at strengthening lower courts and easing pressure on the High Court, which has for years struggled with a growing case backlog.
While presenting the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026 before Parliament, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Norbert Mao explained that the previous pecuniary limits had become outdated, having last been revised in 2007.
According to the Bill’s memorandum, inflation and changes in the value of money had rendered the earlier jurisdictional limits inadequate, resulting in many disputes that could ordinarily be handled by lower courts being filed before the High Court instead.
“As a result, cases that should be handled at the magisterial level end up in the High Court, thereby causing backlog at the High Court,” the memorandum noted.
The enacted amendments are expected to decentralise the handling of civil disputes by empowering Magistrates Courts to adjudicate higher-value claims, thereby improving access to justice and accelerating disposal of cases.
The reforms also introduce procedural changes intended to protect litigants from unnecessary costs and delays.
Under the previous legal framework, lower courts lacking jurisdiction in civil matters were required to dismiss cases outright, forcing parties to restart proceedings in another court.
The amended law now empowers Chief Magistrates to withdraw and transfer such matters to courts with the appropriate jurisdiction instead of dismissing them entirely.
Legal observers say the changes are expected to reduce procedural technicalities that have historically burdened court users and delayed dispute resolution.
The amendments further streamline the structure of the lower bench by abolishing the position of Magistrate Grade II and simplifying the hierarchy to two levels: Chief Magistrate and Magistrate.
In addition, the law transfers powers to issue certain statutory instruments from the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister to the Chief Justice, Flavian Zeija, a move aimed at strengthening judicial oversight and enhancing administrative efficiency within the Judiciary.
The Judiciary has called upon all stakeholders to cooperate during implementation of the new law and reaffirmed its commitment to improving service delivery and access to justice across the country.
“The Judiciary appreciates your cooperation and continued support in the administration of justice,” the notice concluded.
