The Uganda Court Bailiffs Association (UCBA) has raised alarm over new judiciary regulations they claim were imposed without proper consultation, threatening the livelihoods of over 500 members.
Addressing the media, Patrick Baguma, the UCBA Secretary General, criticised the judiciary for what he described as a lack of transparency and engagement in implementing the contentious rules.
"The new rules have been imposed on us without consultation, and they are affecting our work," Baguma said, adding, "We petitioned the Chief Justice (CJ) and even the Constitutional Court, but no one seems to care. The judiciary appears to be dodging us."
The contested regulations, under Rule 28(3), require bailiffs to hold a diploma in law, with a grace period of two years initially granted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, many members argue that the pandemic disrupted education systems, making it impossible to meet the requirements within the stipulated time.
"We request the Chief Justice to grant us more time at least two more years to comply. Some of us are currently studying, and it's difficult to balance work, school, and tuition while being pushed out of the profession," Baguma appealed.
The bailiffs claim the new rules, if enforced, will leave over 300 members without work, further deepening their struggles.
"Our livelihoods are on the line. Most of us do this job because of necessity, not by choice. How do you tell someone with a master's degree to go back and get a diploma to arrest debtors?" Baguma questioned.
Baguma also highlighted operational challenges resulting from the lack of bailiffs due to these restrictions. "They are not concluding judgments because there are no bailiffs. The judiciary doesn't seem to understand this impact," he argued.
The UCBA further appealed to Isaac Ssemakadde, the Uganda Law Society President, to intervene and support their cause.
"We humbly request Ssemakadde, as a member of the Rules Committee, to take our concerns to the Chairman, who is the Chief Justice. We need to be heard," Baguma said.
The association is demanding a "human transition" in the implementation of the rules and has called for a new Act of Parliament to regulate their profession, arguing that the judiciary's management is out of touch with the realities on the ground.
"The management of the judiciary is imposing rules without understanding the challenges we face. Some of us started this work straight from S4. How do you give such people only two years to meet the new qualifications? We are asking for five years," Baguma stated firmly.
The UCBA has vowed to continue pushing for dialogue and has warned that failure to address their concerns could lead to significant disruptions in the judiciary system.
"The time is now to bang the table. We won’t stop until we are heard," Baguma concluded.