The Judiciary has welcomed the coming into force of the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026, describing it as a major milestone in the implementation of reform commitments made by Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija.
The act, which was assented to on April 29, 2026 and commenced on May 8, 2026, amends the Magistrates Courts Act, Cap. 19, by expanding the pecuniary jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts, enhancing the powers of magistrates to impose higher fines, abolishing the position of Magistrate Grade II, and introducing reforms aimed at improving access to justice.
Under the new law, the civil jurisdiction of Chief Magistrates has increased from Shs50 million to 10,000 currency points, equivalent to Shs200 million, while Magistrates will now handle matters whose subject value does not exceed 5,000 currency points, equivalent to Shs100 million.
The Judiciary said the expanded jurisdiction will enable more disputes to be resolved at the Magistrates Courts level, reducing the burden on the High Court and bringing judicial services closer to communities.
“The reform is significant because Magistrates Courts are the first point of contact for the majority of justice seekers,” the Judiciary said.
“By empowering these courts to handle more matters, the Judiciary is reducing the need for litigants to travel long distances, lowering the cost of litigation, and supporting faster disposal of cases.”
According to the Judiciary, the reforms align with Chief Justice Zeija’s commitment to make the justice system more accessible, responsive and efficient, while also reducing case backlog by ensuring cases are handled at the most appropriate level of the court system.
The amendment also grants the Chief Justice powers, acting on the advice of the Judiciary Council and through statutory instruments, to designate magisterial areas and Magistrates Courts for the effective administration of justice.
“This will strengthen planning, deployment and coordination of court services across the country, in line with the Chief Justice’s commitment to decentralise court services and improve service delivery,” the Judiciary noted.
The law further streamlines the structure of Magistrates Courts by retaining only two ranks of magistrates — Chief Magistrate and Magistrate. The position of Magistrate Grade II has been abolished, while references to “Magistrate Grade I” in existing laws have been replaced with “Magistrate.”
In another key reform, Chief Magistrates Courts have been empowered to withdraw and transfer cases, including transferring appropriate matters to the High Court or reallocating matters among magistrates within the same magisterial area where necessary.
“This provision is expected to improve case flow management, promote flexibility in court administration, and support timely disposal of matters,” the Judiciary said.
To ensure a smooth transition, the act also provides for the transfer of some pending matters from the High Court or Chief Magistrates Courts to appropriate Magistrates Courts where hearings have not yet commenced or where such transfer is considered fair.
The Chief Justice is also expected to issue practice directions to guide the transfer of cases under the new framework.
The Judiciary has called upon judicial officers, advocates, court users, justice sector actors and the public to support the implementation of the law and make full use of the expanded jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts.
