The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has commenced adhoc inspections of courts handling election petitions arising from the 2026 General Elections, urging judicial officers to strictly adhere to the timelines set for hearing and determining the cases.
The inspections, which began on Tuesday at the Civil Division of the High Court and the High Court sitting at Wakiso, are taking place on Day 17 of the election petition hearings.
The petitions are expected to be heard and determined by mid-November 2026.
Lady Justice Abodo said the visits were intended to assess the progress of the proceedings, engage with the judges handling the petitions and reassure them that the Judiciary appreciates the sacrifices they are making in handling the sensitive and time-bound matters.
She commended the judges for accepting the assignments despite their already demanding schedules, describing the handling of election petitions as a national duty whose outcomes can have a significant bearing on public confidence and national stability.
“National elections shape our country. When we have election petitions, they can either cause more chaos or they can bring calm to society. We have the capacity, responsibility and opportunity to bring calm to society after all the fanfare that comes with elections,” Lady Justice Abodo said.
She reminded the judges that they had been selected based on their knowledge, experience and judicial temperament, urging them to remain fair, impartial and firmly guided by the law and evidence.
“Just be fair. Listen properly and know your files so well. Read all the affidavits and know the evidence. The beauty of us as judges is that we do not invent anything. We listen to the evidence, apply the law to it and come up with a decision,” she said.
The Principal Judge also urged the judges to carefully manage the strict timelines attached to election petitions. She noted that although the hearings commenced later than initially anticipated due to funding challenges, the Judiciary remains committed to completing the exercise within the prescribed period.
She further urged the judges to maintain firm control of their courtrooms, particularly in situations where limited space requires the number of people attending proceedings to be regulated.
On media coverage, Lady Justice Abodo encouraged the courts to facilitate responsible reporting of the proceedings while cautioning against live-streaming court sessions.
She explained that the Judiciary has established official mechanisms for recording and communicating court proceedings, adding that live-streaming could potentially affect witnesses who may follow proceedings before appearing to give their evidence.
The Principal Judge also urged the judges to manage the heightened emotions that often accompany election petitions, reminding them that the temperament of the court can influence the atmosphere in the courtroom.
“You are the regulator. If the judge flares up, everyone will flare up and the whole courtroom will become tense. You must remain calm because calm will reign in the courtroom,” she said.
The Judiciary said at least 100 judicial officers have been assigned to handle 346 parliamentary and local council election petitions across the country.
The judicial team includes 48 High Court judges who have been assigned to handle 157 election petitions, while 52 Chief Magistrates will handle 189 petitions
