Complaints of delayed justice dominated the third National Court Open Day at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday September 10, 2026, with court users saying prolonged case handling is frustrating efforts to resolve disputes, including through mediation.
Several litigants who interacted with Judiciary officials said delays persist even after parties have reached amicable settlements through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Dr Aisha Bukenya, a local medicine manufacturer under Marvid Pharmaceuticals, said she had successfully mediated a dispute against Royal Group of Pakistan in December last year but was still waiting for the court to release security deposits as ordered.
‘We were able to reach a conclusion between the two parties but up to today, the court has not been able to pay us the security deposit as per court orders passed,’ Dr Bukenya said.
She said the delay had been attributed to technicalities surrounding file numbers, which she argued could have been resolved quickly.
Another court user, who declined to give his name, said he had been involved in a land dispute dating back to the early 1990s which has since reached the appellate stage. He said he had discovered that there was no memorandum of appeal on his file, raising concerns about the progress of the case.
The litigant also criticised some defence lawyers, accusing them of unnecessarily prolonging cases for financial gain. He alleged that some lawyers demand payment whenever they attend court, which he said had discouraged him from relying on legal representation.
‘As you know, lawyers whenever they come to court; they want you to pay them Shs300,000. This scared me and I thought this one also wanted to milk money out of me, which is the reason why I decided to come to court myself,’ he said.
The grievances were welcomed by the Judiciary, which said feedback from court users was important in identifying challenges and developing interventions to improve service delivery.
Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kawumi Kazibwe implored citizens to embrace alternative dispute mechanisms like mediation, reasoning that these are less costly and not lengthy.
‘These mechanisms bring justice closer to the people and reduce the financial and emotional burden associated with prolonged litigation,’ he said.
Mr James Ereemye Mawanda, the Judiciary spokesperson, said officials attending to the public at the Open Day had directed complainants to relevant sections of the courts for assistance, unlike the previous open court days when they had a question-and-answer session.
‘We have encouraged the court users to go to those different stalls like Land, Commercial, Family, so anyone with an issue, when you go to any of those stalls, you will really get quick responses,’ Mr Ereemye said.
The third National Court Open Day was held under the theme ‘Delivering Inclusive, Efficient and Effective Justice.’
The annual event provides an opportunity for members of the public to interact directly with judicial officers and Judiciary officials and seek guidance on the justice system.
Among the services being explained to the public are filing and management of cases, bail and bail refunds, payment of court fees, access to judgments and rulings, appeals and execution of court decisions.
The event also allows the Judiciary to receive complaints and feedback from litigants on challenges they encounter while seeking justice.
The complaints come at a time when the Judiciary continues to face a heavy caseload and concerns over delays in the disposal of cases, with alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation being promoted as one of the ways of reducing the backlog.