The expiry of contracts for eleven High Court judges in Uganda has left them jobless, raising new concerns about the administration of justice and the growing backlog of court cases.
Several of the affected judges have since returned their case files to their supervisors, awaiting further guidance from the Judicial Service Commission and the Office of the President. The development has made hundreds of litigants uncertain about when they will have their cases heard.
A photograph from August 11, 2022, shows President Yoweri Museveni with the then newly appointed judges at State House Entebbe. At the time, the appointments were hailed as a critical step to strengthen the judiciary.
Contract Expiry and Institutional Gaps
Unlike permanent judicial officers, the 11 judges were serving under renewable contracts of three years. Sources within the judiciary indicate that officials expected to extend the contracts, but paperwork has stalled.
Officials familiar with the matter say the judges’ departure has already disrupted court operations, with files reassigned or put on hold. “When a judge leaves midstream, the parties in a case have to wait for reassignment, and sometimes the hearing must start afresh,” a senior registrar explained.
This delay threatens to undermine ongoing efforts to reduce case backlog, which currently stands at more than 40,000 pending cases nationwide, according to judiciary records.
Calls for Urgent Action
Judicial reform advocates argue that contract-based appointments for judges weaken judicial independence and create unnecessary instability. Critics say judges working on short-term contracts may feel pressured to deliver judgments in line with political expectations to secure renewal.
Justice delayed is justice denied,” said one Kampala-based lawyer. “When authorities leave judges in limbo, they risk not only the judges’ careers but also the lives of thousands of Ugandans waiting for justice.
Government’s Position
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which advises the President on judicial appointments, has not yet issued an official statement. However, insiders suggest the JSC has already forwarded recommendations for contract renewal or replacement to State House.
President Museveni has previously emphasized that judicial appointments must balance competence, integrity, and national service. But with the judiciary’s workload surging, many observers argue that the current vacuum cannot be allowed to persist.
Wider Implications
The expiry of contracts highlights a broader structural problem in Uganda’s judicial system — balancing the need for flexibility with the demand for continuity and independence.
Parliament in recent years has pushed for more funding to recruit and retain judicial officers, noting that Uganda’s ratio of judges to population remains one of the lowest in East Africa.
Analysts warn that failure to resolve the current situation swiftly could embolden critics of Uganda’s justice system, especially in politically sensitive cases.
What Next?
Legal experts suggest three likely scenarios:
- Contract Renewals – The President could reappoint some or all of the judges, ensuring continuity in their dockets.
- New Appointments – Authorities could fill the vacancies with fresh judges, though parliamentary vetting would delay the resumption of cases.
- Temporary Assignments – Officials could deploy senior registrars or acting judges as a stop-gap, though this approach risks further delays.
For now, litigants and lawyers await clarity. As one affected litigant in the Commercial Division put it: “We just want our day in court. Politics should not stand in the way of justice.”
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