Judiciary of Uganda spreads the Court of Appeal to eight regions

Appeals just got dragged out of Kampala as the judiciary spread the workload nationwide to unclog courts, shave delays, and stop forcing everyone to chase justice from one city.

New appeal map rolls out

• The Judiciary of Uganda rolled out eight Court of Appeal Circuits.
• The shift aimed at decentralizing appellate hearings.
• Pitched as access and cost relief.
• Framed as a system-wide reset.

Where courts will sit

• Arua was added as an appeal hearing location.
• Fort Portal is placed on the circuit list.
• Gulu is slotted for appellate sessions.
• Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, and Mubende are covered.

Backlog pressure driving reform

• Judiciary of Uganda flagged stubborn case congestion.
• Roughly 24.2 percent backlog is still hanging around.
• Disposal rates improved, but strain persists.
• Expansion is pitched as a release valve.

Legal footing for the move

• Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo issued the directive.
• Legal Notice No. 21 of 2025 anchors it.
• Authority drawn from the Constitution.
• Practice rules lock it in.

Phased launch plan

• The Judiciary of Uganda said the rollout will be staggered.
• Gulu goes live first once the courts finish.
• Mbarara follows after construction wraps.
• Other circuits wait their turn.

Case transfers from Kampala

• The Judiciary of Uganda plans to shift the unheard appeals.
• Constitutional petitions also move.
• Jurisdiction decides the destination.
• Kampala's load gets lighter.