Lawyers in Greater Masaka have launched a strike over the Masaka judge shortage, saying justice continues to suffer due to the lack of High Court judges.
Mr. Alexander Lule, President of the Uganda Law Society – Masaka Chapter, announced that the strike would begin on Monday, June 16. Consequently, it will affect courts across nine districts and Masaka City.
“We’re not going back to court until the Judiciary acts,” Mr. Lule said during a press conference at the Masaka High Court. “One judge cannot manage the overwhelming caseload in this circuit.”
He criticized the Judiciary for ignoring repeated petitions. Despite their continuous efforts, no concrete solution has emerged. “We’ve tried alternative approaches, but delays persist. Courts keep adjourning cases without cause, and administrators won’t engage on backlog issues,” he added.
Masaka High Court records, as of April 10, 2025, show 4,290 unresolved cases. The bulk includes:
- 1,141 civil cases
- 1,188 land-related disputes
- 455 family matters
Moreover, criminal and appeal cases continue to pile up.
Mr. Herbert Zikusooka, another lawyer, explained that although Masaka has four Chief Magistrates and over 20 Grade One Magistrates, only one High Court judge—Lady Justice Fatumah Nanziri Bwanika—handles all cases requiring High Court attention.
“She’s tied up with criminal trials. As a result, appeals and bail hearings can’t proceed without another judge,” Zikusooka said. “People like Edward Ssebuufu and Grace Wakabi have waited too long for their bail hearings.”
Zikusooka, who represents some of these accused individuals, emphasized that the shortage blocks access to fair hearings. “This isn’t about politics—it’s about access to justice,” he added.
Mr. Herbert Kichoncho raised ethical concerns. “We keep receiving payments to file new cases, yet many never progress. That’s unjust to our clients.”
Likewise, Mr. Sam Ssekyewa noted that many clients have walked away out of frustration. “They lose trust when cases stall for months or years. It affects livelihoods and reputations,” he explained.
Lawyers argue that Masaka deserves at least three resident High Court judges. “Mukono, a smaller area, has more judges than we do. That imbalance is unacceptable,” Ssekyewa stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. James Ereemye Mawanda, Judiciary spokesperson, urged lawyers to remain calm. He acknowledged the issue but explained that it extends beyond Masaka.
“We’ve consistently requested the appointment of more judges. Once that happens, areas like Masaka will benefit from the new deployments,” he said. However, no specific timeline has been provided.
Currently, over 50 lawyers and 27 law firms operate in Masaka. All of them have joined the strike. Therefore, legal activity in the region is expected to come to a complete standstill.
Legal professionals now say the Masaka judge shortage has reached crisis level. The mounting backlog undermines public trust and stalls justice for thousands. In the meantime, lawyers hope this strike forces immediate and meaningful intervention.
