Lady Justice Abodo Calls for Stronger Mediation in Land Disputes

The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, chaired a high-level Judiciary engagement during the Pre-Fortnight Settlement Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Users’ Roundtable for the Land Division of the High Court.

The meeting was held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala and organised by the Judiciary through the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) on Friday.

The Roundtable brought together key stakeholders in land justice administration, including Judges of the Land Division, Registrars, Mediators, Advocates, and officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, as part of preparations for the upcoming Settlement Fortnight.

The key message from the engagement centred not on procedure, but on substance: the urgent need to strengthen mediation and expand the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in resolving land conflicts.

Opening the discussion, Lady Justice Abodo underscored the importance of collaboration and proactive case management in improving access to justice and reducing the burden of protracted land litigation.

Lady Justice Abodo described the Roundtable as a strategic preparatory platform for the forthcoming Settlement Fortnight, noting that it provides justice actors with an opportunity to review the state of land disputes, identify matters suitable for mediation, and strengthen coordinated efforts toward faster and more meaningful resolution.

“Many land disputes involve family relationships, community ties, historical claims, and economic livelihoods, which are often better suited for amicable settlement rather than prolonged adversarial litigation,” she said.

Lady Justice Abodo emphasized the growing importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution, particularly mediation, urging judicial officers, mediators, and advocates to identify suitable cases early and prioritise reconciliation and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Lady Justice Abodo further highlighted the need for consistency and predictability in land jurisprudence, especially in recurring issues such as spousal consent, fraudulent transfers, customary land rights, registration disputes, and eviction procedures.

She noted that uniform application of the law strengthens public confidence and helps reduce unnecessary litigation.

“Consistent application of the law builds public confidence and reduces unnecessary litigation,” she said.

Lady Justice Abodo also commended Barbara Kilei for the continued support of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) to the Judiciary and the wider justice sector, particularly its contribution to strengthening mediation processes ahead of the Settlement Fortnight.

Speaking at the same engagement, representatives of the Judicial Training Institute Governing Council reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to enhancing judicial capacity and promoting ADR as a central pillar of access to justice.

Representing the Chairperson, George Omunyokol noted that land disputes remain among the most sensitive and complex cases, often affecting families, livelihoods, investments, and social stability, and therefore require approaches that are both legally sound and restorative.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Bench and the Bar in ensuring effective mediation and settlement outcomes.

The Head of the Land Division, Lady Justice Damalie Lwanga, presented the current status of land disputes within the Division and outlined readiness for the forthcoming Settlement Fortnight scheduled for June 22 to July 3 2026.

She noted that the Division handles land disputes arising from Kampala District and parts of Wakiso District.

Despite the operationalisation of the Entebbe and Wakiso High Court Circuits, she said the Division continues to experience a significant caseload.

According to statistics presented, the Division carried forward 8,930 land matters from the previous financial year, while 3,692 new matters have been registered in the current financial year 2025/2026.

Of these, 655 cases have already been referred to mediation.