Masaka Lawyers Stage Strike Over Backlog, Judge Shortage

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1604 EAT on Saturday 14 June 2025

The Masaka Lawyers Association has gone on strike to protest the severe shortage of judges in the Masaka sub-region. With only one High Court judge handling a massive backlog of 4,290 cases across nine districts, the lawyers argue that the Judiciary’s failure to deploy more judges is unacceptable.

The strike highlights the urgent need for more judicial resources to ensure timely justice for the people of Masaka.

Alexander Lule, chairperson of the Masaka Lawyers Association, has indeed expressed frustration with the Judiciary’s handling of the judge shortage in Masaka. The lawyers are protesting the severe backlog of cases, with approximately 4,290 cases pending due to the lack of judges. Here’s what’s happening.

Lule emphasizes that the prolonged detention of suspects on remand violates the principle of expeditious justice.

The Judiciary has acknowledged the shortage and is exploring solutions, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and potential recruitment of more judges .

The Masaka Lawyers Association, led by Chairperson Alexander Lule, has taken a firm stance by going on strike to protest the Judiciary’s failure to deploy more judges to the region. Despite previous meetings and promises, the association feels that their concerns have been ignored.

The lawyers are demanding additional judges to address the significant backlog of cases, which currently stands at approximately 4,290 cases with only one High Court judge available. The strike aims to pressure the Judiciary to take concrete actions to address the shortage and ensure timely justice for the people of Masaka.

Alexander Lule emphasizes that the lawyers’ strike aims to highlight the Judiciary’s shortcomings in delivering timely justice. With a massive case backlog and insufficient judges, suspects are languishing on remand, violating their right to expeditious justice.

The lawyers are seeking meaningful change to ensure justice is served and seen to be served.

By advocating for these changes, the lawyers hope to bring attention to the need for a more effective and efficient justice system in Masaka.

The lawyers in Masaka are united in their demand for more judicial resources. With a single judge and registrar struggling to manage hundreds of pending cases, the system is under significant strain. Davis Kiconco’s comments echo the concerns of Alexander Lule, emphasizing that the situation is unsustainable and requires immediate attention.

The petition to the principal judge serves as a formal notice of the lawyers’ grievances and their intention to remain on strike until meaningful changes are made.

The deputy chief justice, Flavian Zeija, acknowledged the judge shortage in Masaka during the launch of the #Justice4Her project. He pledged to advocate for additional recruitment to address this issue. Despite this acknowledgment, the shortage persists, and lawyers are now taking drastic measures, such as the current strike, to push for change.

The delays in justice delivery are having far-reaching consequences, including.

The lawyers’ strike highlights the need for urgent action to address the judge shortage and ensure that justice is delivered fairly and efficiently.

The proposal to expand the jurisdiction of chief magistrates to handle defilement cases is one potential solution to ease the High Court’s burden. Additionally, lawyer Elison Karuhanga suggests leveraging Article 142(2) of the Constitution, which allows for the appointment of temporary judges from qualified individuals, including members of the Uganda Law Society (ULS).

This approach could provide a temporary solution to address the judge shortage and backlog of cases. Karuhanga’s comment about the terms of such appointments highlights the potential for dedicated individuals to serve without expecting special perks.

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