The Role of Local Council Courts in the Administration of Justice in Kahoora Division of Hoima District, Uganda

Wobusobozi Ronny

Faculty of Laws Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

This study examines the role of local council courts in the administration of justice in Kahoora Division of Hoima District, Uganda. Local council courts exist as a subordinate court with jurisdiction within the precincts of their localities, handling children matters, family, customary land disputes, and other light civil cases. However, the LCC has not become the panacea to the problem of the inaccessibility of justice for several reasons. First, there is the fusion of executive and judicial powers in the same persons, posing inherent dangers to the proper administration of justice. Second, these courts administer the basic principles of an alien law, limiting access to substantive justice. Third, there is general ignorance of the law among those who administer it due to lack of minimal training, leading to confusion in court procedures and judgments. Fourth, voluntarism as a basis for the operation of these courts tends to undermine their efficiency and effectiveness as deliverers of justice. In the light of the analysis above and the challenges, the study calls for the jurisdiction of LCC, especially regarding customary land, to be revised. More so, the substantive matters handled by both rural and urban LCC should differ based on prevalent cases and socioeconomic bases in both areas.

Keywords: Administration of justice, Judicial powers, Local council courts, Subordinate courts, Superior courts.

CITE AS: Wobusobozi Ronny (2024). The Role of Local Council Courts in the Administration of Justice in Kahoora Division of Hoima District, Uganda. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF LAW, COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGES 3(1):81-87