KAMPALA, Uganda | The Judiciary of Uganda has announced a three-day national case census scheduled from January 13 to 15, 2025. During this period, court services across the country will be temporarily halted to facilitate the comprehensive exercise.

The case census, covering all court levels from the Supreme Court to the lowest magistrate courts, will account for all pending case files as of January 12, 2025. This exercise aims to assess the volume and types of cases within the judicial system and identify areas requiring strategic intervention.

Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera explained that the census is critical for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial service delivery. Data collected will guide resource allocation, including the deployment of judicial officers to courts with higher caseloads.

Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu, through a communication issued by Judiciary spokesperson Mary Kaitesi Kisakye, confirmed the temporary disruption of court services. Cases scheduled for hearing during the census period will be rescheduled. The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) will collaborate with the Judiciary to ensure accurate data collection.

This is Uganda’s second national court case census, following the first conducted in 2015 under former Chief Justice Bart Katureebe. That exercise identified 114,809 pending cases, providing insights for addressing case backlogs and improving judicial processes.

The Judiciary has urged stakeholders and the public to support this initiative, noting its importance in achieving a more effective and transparent judicial system.