KAMPALA, 22 December 2025 – In a move aimed at streamlining legal challenges ahead of the 2026 General Elections, the Principal Judge of the High Court of Uganda has ordered the immediate centralization of all pre-election petition files to the court’s Civil Division in Kampala.
In a directive issued on December 19, 2025, Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo instructed all Heads of Circuits across the country to transfer case files pertaining to pre-election petitions to the Civil Division with immediate effect.
Boosting Efficiency and Consistency
The directive justifies the move by citing the need for judicial consistency, administrative efficiency, and timely hearings. Under current practice, appeals from Electoral Commission decisions—which are made at the Commission’s headquarters in Kampala—are typically heard at the Civil Division. By centralizing these cases, the Judiciary aims to ensure a uniform approach to election-related legal disputes.
Strict Deadlines Set
With the General Elections scheduled for January 15, 2026, the Principal Judge has set a firm deadline for the resolution of these disputes.
Completion Deadline: All pre-election cases must be heard and determined no later than January 9, 2026.
Purpose: The deadline is described as “critical” to ensure all issues arising from the electoral process are legally settled before citizens head to the polls.
Coordination and Implementation
The Registrar of the High Court and the Registrar of the Civil Division have been tasked with coordinating the receipt and assignment of the transferred files. This directive signals the Judiciary’s commitment to “Justice for All” by preventing legal delays that could potentially disrupt the upcoming electoral roadmap.
Legal experts suggest that this centralization will likely allow for a dedicated team of judges to focus exclusively on electoral matters, reducing the risk of conflicting rulings from different regional circuits.
