By Joseph Mary Buwule
KAMPALA – The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Her Worship Agnes Alum, has commended Magistrates-in-Charge of Stations across the country for their outstanding efforts in reducing case backlog and strengthening service delivery, while urging them to maintain professionalism, integrity, and accountability in the administration of justice.
Speaking during her maiden meeting with Magistrates-in-Charge at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala, HW Alum praised judicial officers for the significant progress made in clearing long-standing cases and ensuring efficient court operations.
The meeting brought together magistrates from across Uganda alongside members of the Judiciary’s Senior Management to review court performance, discuss emerging challenges, and explore strategies for improving service delivery.
Among those in attendance were HW Thadius Ayebare Tumwebaze, Registrar of the Supreme Court; HW Lillian Bucyana, Acting Registrar of the Judicial Training Institute; HW Patricia Amoko, Private Legal Secretary to the Chief Registrar; Mr. David Sunday Kikabi, Principal Information Technology Officer; Eng. Priscilla Nakiboneka, Principal Executive Engineer and Acting Head of the Engineering and Technical Services Department; and Ms. Dorcus Nakunda, Senior Assistant Secretary representing the Directorate of Finance and Administration.
Welcoming the magistrates, HW Alum thanked God for the opportunity to serve as Chief Registrar and expressed gratitude to the judicial officers for attending the meeting despite its earlier postponement.
Describing the magistrates as her “foot soldiers,” she applauded them for their dedication and hard work in reducing case backlog at Magistrates’ Courts.
“Thank you for the hard work and achievements you continue to register for the Judiciary. The significant progress made in backlog clearance deserves celebration. The reports indicate that backlog in your courts is now minimal, and for that, I commend you,” she said.
According to the Chief Registrar, reports from the Registry of Magistrates Affairs and Data Management indicate that case backlog in Magistrates’ Courts has reduced substantially and is now nearly non-existent compared to other levels of the court system.
She also commended magistrates for effectively managing their courts and ensuring uninterrupted judicial services across the country.
Providing updates on developments since the last meeting with magistrates in September 2025, HW Alum highlighted key leadership changes within the Judiciary, including the appointment of Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija as Chief Justice and Justice Moses Kawumi Kazibwe as Deputy Chief Justice.
She further informed the meeting that HW Pamela Lamunu Ocaya had assumed office as Registrar of Magistrates Affairs and Data Management and thanked her for successfully steering the Office of the Chief Registrar in an acting capacity for fourteen months.
The Chief Registrar also urged magistrates to familiarize themselves with recently gazetted laws and regulations that will directly affect judicial work. These include the Administration of the Judiciary Judicial Training Institute Regulations, 2025; the Constitution (Operation of Mobile Courts) Practice Directions, 2026; the Judicature (Court Annexed Mediation) Rules, 2026; and the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026.
She placed particular emphasis on the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, noting that it significantly expands the pecuniary jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts. She revealed that a taskforce is currently finalizing practice directions to facilitate the transfer of suitable cases from the High Court to Magistrates’ Courts under the new legal framework.
“These cases will be substantially larger than what many of you have previously handled. I therefore urge you to exercise diligence and prepare yourselves through continuous learning and capacity building,” she advised.
HW Alum further directed magistrates to ensure that all claims filed before court clearly indicate their monetary value in order to avoid jurisdictional challenges, particularly in land-related disputes.
The meeting underscored the Judiciary’s commitment to enhancing efficiency, improving access to justice, and equipping judicial officers with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively handle an evolving legal environment.