The Judiciary has established eight Court of Appeal Circuits across the country in a landmark reform aimed at bringing appellate justice closer to the people, reducing case backlogs, shortening appeal timelines and lowering the cost of accessing justice.
The new circuits are expected to significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of justice by decongesting the Court of Appeal in Kampala and easing the burden on litigants and advocates who previously had to travel long distances for appellate services.
The reform is anchored in Legal Notice No. 21 of 2025, the Constitution (Creation of the Court of Appeal Circuits) (Practice) Directions, 2025, issued by Chief Justice Emeritus Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo pursuant to Article 133(1)(b) of the Constitution on 30th October 2025.
Under the new arrangement, the Court of Appeal will sit in Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, and Mubende.
This decentralisation will enable litigants and legal practitioners to access appellate justice within their respective regions, saving time and resources.
The initiative forms part of the Judiciary’s broader commitment to strengthening access to justice, enhancing public confidence in the justice system, and improving service delivery nationwide.
Implementation of the Court of Appeal Circuits will be carried out in phases, beginning with Gulu and Mbarara, once construction of the respective court houses is completed.
As a transitional measure, all appeals and constitutional petitions currently pending before the Court of Appeal in Kampala, which fall under the jurisdiction of the newly created circuits and have not yet been heard, will be transferred to the respective circuits upon their operationalisation.
The move is widely seen as a progressive step towards a more accessible, responsive, and people-centred justice system in Uganda.
