Mukono RDC halts activities of LC3 courts

Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mukono Deputy Resident District Commissioner-RDC Henry Kitambula has halted the activities of Local Council III courts, saying that they are illegal. Various town councils and sub-counties within Mukono formed LC3 courts to handle minor cases within their respective communities referred to them by the LCI courts.

However, the deputy RDC says the LCIII courts have only complicated land matters in the area. He also says that the LCIII courts are illegal, arguing that only area land committees are mandated to handle land matters.

“There is no appellate court at LCIII level according to the law. The area land committee deals with conflicts/issues under the district board and land commission. …the above court cannot stand since the court itself is illegal,” reads the June 4th, 2022 letter addressed to LC3 courts and LCI chairpersons

The RDC’s directive has not gone down well with those serving in LC3 courts, saying their operations are within the law. Steven Mufuwa, the chairperson of Mukono Central Division LC3 court, has advised the RDC’s office to review its decision in accordance with the statutory instruments supplements of 2007 guiding the courts.

The Statutory Instruments Supplements for the Local Council Courts Regulation, 2007 No. 51 provides for the establishment of a division local council court comprising five members appointed by the division council on the recommendation of the executive committee of the division council.

They are mandated to try and determine cases on debts, contracts, assaults, or assault and battery, conversion, damage to property, trespass, and civil disputes governed by customary law. According to the regulation, such courts may make an order for any one or more of the following reliefs: reconciliation, declaration, compensation, restitution, costs, apology, attachment, and sale, and in the case of infringement of a bye-law impose a fine, community service or any other penalty authorized by that bye-law or ordinance.

Jane Nakiyingi, one of the residents who stood trial in the Central division court, says it favors those with money who connive with LC I chairpersons to drive their agenda of oppressing the poor. She supports the decision of the RDC’s office to abolish such courts. According to Nakiyingi, she is among the people who failed to get justice and decided to petition the RDC’s office.

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