Uganda’s Judiciary is seeking to settle 1,424 pending commercial disputes involving more than Shs325 billion through mediation, as it steps up efforts to clear a growing backlog of business-related cases.
The cases, covering trade, construction and corporate disputes, will be handled during the Trade, Construction and Corporate Disputes Settlement Fortnight, scheduled for 17 to 28 August.
Justice Anna Mugenyi, head of the Commercial Division of the High Court, said the cases comprise 1,250 trade disputes, 89 construction cases and 85 corporate disputes.
She said resolving the cases would help businesses recover funds tied up in prolonged litigation while easing pressure on the commercial court system.
Justice Mugenyi was speaking on Tuesday at a Judiciary roundtable at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala.
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) chairperson Isa Ssekito said small businesses were particularly vulnerable when disputes arose with financially stronger companies or government agencies.
Many traders, he said, lacked written agreements and other documentation needed to support their claims, while the cost of prolonged litigation often made it difficult for them to pursue cases.
Ssekito urged traders to keep proper records of their business transactions and consider mediation as a faster and potentially less costly way of resolving disputes.
He also raised concerns over tax disputes involving the Uganda Revenue Authority, saying some traders faced financial barriers when challenging tax assessments.
Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi said the timely resolution of commercial disputes was critical to Uganda’s economic growth.
“Prolonged commercial disputes can tie up business capital, increase operating costs and discourage investment,” he said.
The Judiciary says the use of mediation is increasing. It recorded 503 completed mediations in the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, up from 247 in the first quarter.
However, only about 21% of the completed mediations resulted in full or partial settlements, highlighting the challenges facing efforts to resolve commercial disputes outside the courtroom.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Nobert Mao said the government was working to promote mediation as part of efforts to reduce lengthy court battles and improve access to justice.
The Judiciary hopes the August mediation drive will unlock funds tied up in commercial disputes and contribute to reducing the backlog of cases before the courts.
