Magistrates have asked Parliament to have their salary increased in addition provision of motor vehicle and mortgage loans in a move that will cost taxpayers an extra UGX40Bn annually. The judicial officers also want their current medical insurance package extended to cover their spouses and four dependent relatives.
This is to ensure that the looming increase in their workload is commensurate with their welfare.
The demands were made by Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, Justice at High Court-Land Division, who also doubles as the President of Uganda Judicial Officers Association, on 18th March 2026, while appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, to present the Association’s views on The Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Magistrates and Chief Magistrates defended their demands argued that if the projected UGX40Bn is invested in them, Government will spend less on prisons maintenance costs and it would lower the litigation costs for the citizens, further arguing that the demands fall within the themes of proportionality, that will require that if Government is going to expand jurisdiction, there should be a proportionate reaction to meet their welfare needs.
Although Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) concurred with the demands made, he said the demands made were outside the subject matter of the Bill, but rather asked to have the Judicial Officers Association (UJOA) invited alongside the Judiciary, during the consideration of the 2026/27 ministerial policy statement for the Judiciary.
Stephen Baka, Chairperson, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee admitted that his committee members have been bombarded with calls from some Judicial Officers on complaints about their welfare, and promised to invite them alongside the Judiciary to present their concerns.
This is justifiable. It is not too much.