Lawyers across the Masaka region have declared an indefinite sit-down strike, citing a critical shortage of High Court judges that has crippled the delivery of justice. The industrial action, spearheaded by Uganda Law Society – Masaka Chapter President Alexander Lule, is set to begin on June 16, effectively paralyzing court operations across the Masaka High Court Circuit, which serves nine districts, including Masaka City.
At a press briefing held at the Masaka High Court, Lule announced that legal practitioners would not resume work until the government responds to their demands for more judicial officers.
“We have petitioned the Judiciary several times, but nothing has changed,” Lule said. “The shortage of judges has caused endless delays, frequent adjournments, and a growing backlog of unresolved cases.”
As of April 10, 2025, the Masaka High Court registry reported 4,290 pending cases, including:
- 1,141 civil cases
- 1,188 land disputes
- 455 family-related matters
The court has only one High Court judge, Lady Justice Fatumah Nanziri Bwanika, responsible for handling all bail applications, appeals, and complex matters—many of which have stalled while she presides over an ongoing criminal session.
Local attorney Herbert Zikusooka highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that urgent bail applications for high-profile individuals—such as Edward Ssebuufu, Achilleo Kivumbi, Mugumya Gaddafi, and Grace Wakabi (alias Smart)—remain pending due to the bottleneck.
Lawyers: “We Can’t Ethically Charge Clients Anymore”
Lawyer Herbert Kichoncho criticized the Judiciary for forcing legal professionals into an ethical dilemma.
“It’s wrong to accept fees for new cases when the existing ones aren’t moving. The system is failing everyone—especially the clients,” he said.
Another attorney, Sam Ssekyewa, said he has lost multiple clients due to prolonged delays. He pointed out that the Masaka Circuit had gone over a year without a substantive judge, until Justice Bwanika was appointed just two months ago.
“If smaller circuits like Mukono have multiple judges, why not Masaka?” Ssekyewa asked.
In a brief response, Judiciary spokesperson James Ereemye Mawanda acknowledged the strain on the justice system and said efforts were underway to address it.
“We are actively advocating for the appointment of more judicial officers,” Mawanda stated. “Once new appointments are confirmed, Masaka will be among the areas prioritized for reinforcement.”
The strike is expected to significantly disrupt legal services, with 27 law firms and over 50 lawyers in the Masaka sub-region participating. Their unified action reflects growing frustration with systemic underfunding and the slow pace of judicial appointments.
As the legal stalemate looms, one thing is clear: without urgent government intervention, access to justice in Masaka may grind to a complete halt.
