100 JUDICIAL OFFICERS DEPLOYED TO HEAR 346 ELECTION PETITIONS

PML DAILY

The Judiciary has deployed 100 judicial officers to hear and determine 346 parliamentary and local council election petitions arising from the 2026 general elections.

The petitions, pending before 30 High Court circuits, the High Court Civil Division and 26 Chief Magistrates Courts, will be heard under a special programme intended to fast-track their disposal.

The Judiciary has assigned 157 petitions to 48 High Court judges, while 52 Chief Magistrates will handle the remaining 189.

High Court hearings will begin on Monday 14 September 2026 and run until 13 November. At the Chief Magistrates Courts, hearings start on 21 September and are scheduled to conclude by 30 October.

The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has directed the assigned officers to give the petitions their full attention during the hearing period.

In Administrative Circular No. 5 of 2026, Justice Abodo urged judges to avoid other commitments that could interfere with the programme, adding that election petitions will take precedence over ordinary judicial assignments during the period.

She also directed the officers to adopt firm case-management measures so the petitions are disposed of without unnecessary delay.

“Cases should be fixed promptly and, where practicable, heard on consecutive days. Unnecessary adjournments should be avoided, interlocutory applications handled expeditiously and court directions strictly enforced,” Justice Abodo said.

Among the High Court stations, the Masaka circuit has the most petitions, with 21 cases assigned to five judges. The Civil Division follows with 17 petitions before four judges, and the Mukono circuit has 14 assigned to three judges.

The Iganga circuit has 13 petitions before three judges, while Mbarara and Wakiso have 10 each — Mbarara with three judges and Wakiso with two.

At the Chief Magistrates Courts, Makindye has the most petitions, with 31 cases assigned to eight officers. Kawempe follows with 20 before five Chief Magistrates, Nabweru has 17 before four officers, Mengo 16 before four, and Kira 15 before three.

Other courts hearing petitions include Kajjansi, Nakawa, Wakiso, Nsangi, Mukono, Kayunga, Jinja, Kibaale, Kasangati, Gulu and Buganda Road.

The programme covers courts across the country, with some stations handling a single petition and others allocated several officers depending on workload.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis