Labour Officers Urged to Resolve More Disputes Before They Reach Industrial Court

The Head of the Industrial Court, Lady Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha, has urged Labour Officers to strengthen mediation and negotiation efforts to resolve more labour disputes at the administrative level, saying this will reduce the burden on the Industrial Court, improve access to justice, and speed up dispute resolution for workers and employers.

The Head of the Industrial Court, Lady Justice Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha, has urged Labour Officers to apply the knowledge and practical skills acquired during a three-day capacity-building programme to resolve more labour disputes at the administrative level, reducing the number of cases referred to the Industrial Court.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the regional training programme for Labour Officers from Uganda's Central Region, particularly the Kampala Metropolitan Area, at the Imperial Golf View Hotel in Entebbe, Justice Tumusiime said effective mediation and negotiation at labour offices would ease pressure on the courts while improving access to justice for both workers and employers.

The training, organised by the Judicial Training Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and the Industrial Court of Uganda, saw Justice Tumusiime commend participants for their commitment and active engagement throughout the programme. She noted that despite the interruption caused by a public holiday, all planned sessions were successfully completed.

She also praised the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) for its continued support in strengthening labour justice and thanked the Judicial Training Institute, the Industrial Court, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, facilitators, and the organising teams for their contribution to the programme's success.

The Industrial Court head further commended the facilitators for sharing practical knowledge and experience, describing capacity-building as a two-way learning process in which both trainers and participants benefit from exchanging ideas and experiences.

Drawing from simulation exercises conducted during the training, Justice Tumusiime said future programmes should place greater emphasis on communication and organisational culture, describing them as essential elements of effective mediation and dispute resolution.

She challenged Labour Officers to put their newly acquired skills into practice by prioritising mediation and negotiation before disputes escalate into litigation.

“We look forward to seeing a reduction in the number of matters referred to the Industrial Court. We hope more disputes will be resolved at the labour office level, with only those that genuinely require judicial intervention proceeding to court,” Justice Tumusiime said.

She expressed optimism that strengthening the capacity of Labour Officers would help reduce the backlog of labour disputes before the Industrial Court while ensuring faster and more effective justice for both employers and employees.

Industrial Court Judge Justice Anthony Wabwire Wejuli thanked the institutions, facilitators, and participants whose commitment contributed to the successful implementation of the programme.

Retired Judge Justice Asaph Ruhinda Ntengye also commended the organisers for initiating the training and urged participants to demonstrate its impact by applying the knowledge and skills gained in their daily work.

Participants also took part in an interactive Mediation Quiz facilitated by Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, which revisited key mediation principles and introduced practical conflict management tools.

During the session, Justice Khaukha explained the SCARF Model, highlighting how the five social domains—Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness—influence behaviour during conflict. He urged Labour Officers to recognise these triggers to improve mediation outcomes and prevent negotiations from reaching a deadlock.