Court of Appeal starts clearing 33 dormant cases in Kampala

______________

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kampala has begun clearing 33 cases that have remained pending in the system for extended periods, some dating back over a decade.

The three-day civil appeals session commenced on Wednesday, April 8, with a total of 33 cases scheduled for hearing, according to a statement by the Judiciary.

The statement said the session is prioritising cases that have remained pending for extended periods, some dating back over a decade, including matters filed as far back as 2015.

“The initiative is aimed at facilitating the timely disposal of civil appeals and enhancing access to justice for litigants,” it said.

Proceedings are being presided over by a panel of three justices comprising Margaret Tibulya, John Mike Musisi, and Jesse Byaruhanga.

According to the cause list issued by Natukunda Janeva, the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal, the matters set for hearing cover a broad spectrum of civil disputes.

These include land and property claims, mortgage disputes, breach of contract, judicial review, as well as claims involving damages, compensation, and wrongful appointment, among others.

Appellants and their legal representatives are present in court as the session gets underway.

Case backlog

As of December 31, 2025, the Judiciary reported 198,554 pending cases, of which 48,326 were backlog, and 150,228 were non-backlog.

The High Court alone had about 89,216 pending matters, including 27,791 backlog cases, followed by Chief Magistrates’ Courts with 71,625 pending matters, of which 9,715 were backlog.

The Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court recorded about 8,172 backlog cases, while the Supreme Court, owing to its limited jurisdiction, had the smallest backlog.

The Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, recently called for a fundamental shift in judicial mindset, urging judicial officers to embrace proactive case management practices as a critical step towards reducing case backlog and improving the timely delivery of justice.

While speaking at the opening of a one-day Civil Trial Procedure training held at the Court of Appeal Building Conference Hall in Kampala on March 23, Zeija stressed that persistent case backlog continues to erode public confidence in the justice system.

He reminded judicial officers that under Article 126 of the Constitution, judicial power is derived from the people, who expect an efficient, transparent, and responsive Judiciary.