SALARIES, HOUSES, MEDICAL CARE! Speaker Oboth Promises Support As Judges Demand Better Working Conditions
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has pledged parliamentary support to judicial officers’ welfare.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the Uganda Judicial Officer Association (UJOA) led by the Principal Judge, Her Lordship Jane Frances Abodo, at the Speaker’s Chambers on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.
“Bring your proposals to Parliament, properly packaged, and I assure you they will receive the attention they deserve,” Oboth said.
The Speaker assured the judicial officers that Parliament is committed to addressing their welfare challenges, saying adequate facilitation and good working conditions are critical to institutional performance.
The Speaker acknowledged that working conditions across the Judiciary still need improvement, particularly in harmonising terms across the broader Public Service.
“We cannot expect an institution to perform at its best when the people who run it are not well facilitated. Parliament remains committed to strengthening the Judiciary and improving the welfare of its officers,” he added.
Principal Judge Abodo stressed the urgent need to improve the welfare and working conditions of lower-bench officers, particularly Magistrates, who make up the majority of UJOA’s membership.
“Magistrates are the first point of contact between the public and the justice system. When their welfare is neglected and they are poorly facilitated, their performance suffers, and so does their ability to dispense justice effectively,” Abodo said.
UJOA brings together judicial officers of all ranks, from Magistrates to Justices of the Supreme Court, to address shared professional concerns and advance the interests of lower-bench officers.
UJOA President, Her Worship Ayebare Daphne, appealed to the Speaker to back the association’s welfare proposals once they are formally tabled.
“We ask for your support when our proposals come before Parliament. Our members need improved salaries, housing, medical care and security to serve the public well,” she said.
Ayebare said the association is guided by five strategic pillars: Justice, Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships, Judicial Excellence, Unity, and Compassion.
Beyond welfare, UJOA also advocates for judicial independence, legal research and institutional reforms.
She further briefed the Speaker on the association’s humanitarian “Porridge Project,” which provides a cup of porridge to remandees appearing in court. The initiative currently runs at the Law Development Centre and Buganda Road Courts.
“Many remandees spend long hours in court without anything to eat. This small gesture is our way of upholding their dignity,” Ayebare said.
On the country’s case backlog, Principal Judge Abodo said the Judiciary is increasingly turning to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
“ADR has become one of our most important tools in reducing case backlog and delivering timely justice,” she said.
In response, Speaker Oboth revealed that he is a Master’s-level trained mediator and backed the rollout of the Peace Centre across the country.
“I believe strongly in mediation. Taking the Peace Centre nationwide would give more Ugandans access to out-of-court resolution of their disputes,” he said.
The delegation accompanying the Principal Judge included Lady Justice Celia Nagawa (UJOA High Court Representative), Her Worship Ayebare Daphne (UJOA President), Nyakairu Edges (Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge), and Her Worship Obizu Mallen (Magistrate and UJOA Member).
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