With a surge in land disputes across the Acholi sub-region—an area still recovering from decades of armed conflict—judicial leaders are increasingly calling for alternative approaches to resolve such conflicts.
By Willy Chowoo
The Gulu High Court Circuit is increasingly turning to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to accelerate the disposal of cases and reduce a growing backlog.
As of Thursday, April 16, 2026, the court is handling a total of 1,857 cases, with judicial officials acknowledging persistent delays, particularly in land-related disputes.
Resident Judge, Justice Philip Odoki Okello, says the court has already begun referring selected cases—especially land conflicts—to traditional leaders for mediation under the ADR framework.
“We are doing our utmost to reduce the backlog. As the High Court, as of last week, I referred a case of the chief of Koch to the High Court; we have started referring cases to the chief,” he said.
The initial phase of this approach has seen land disputes referred to the chief (traditional chief) of Koch, marking a shift toward community-based conflict resolution systems.
Justice Odoki made the remarks during the Open Court Day held at the Gulu High Court Circuit in Gulu City, where concerns about prolonged case delays dominated discussions.
Out of the 1,857 cases currently before the court, land disputes account for 42.5 percent—equivalent to 790 cases—making them the single largest contributor to the backlog.
“Our biggest challenge remains land cases, but we are not sitting back. We are adopting all available innovations to address this,” he noted.
The court also revealed that nearly half of its caseload—946 cases—are classified as backlog.
Despite this, Justice Odoki highlighted significant progress over the past three years. The number of cases has dropped from 3,850 to 1,857, representing a 51.8 percent reduction—equivalent to 1,993 cases cleared.
“This is not where we were three years ago. We are halfway there and optimistic that, if we maintain this trajectory, the situation will continue to improve,” he said.
He added that efforts are particularly focused on criminal cases, expressing confidence that the court could eliminate most of them from the backlog within the next year.
Land Disputes Demand Alternative Solutions
With a surge in land disputes across the Acholi sub-region—an area still recovering from decades of armed conflict—judicial leaders are increasingly calling for alternative approaches to resolve such conflicts.
The principal judge, Jane France Abodo, expressed concern over the growing number of land-related cases in courts, noting that conventional litigation may not always be the most effective solution. She commended communities for their resilience and indicated that the judiciary is considering more suitable mechanisms.
“For land-related matters, I will take this concern to the chief justice so we can explore the best way of handling them. This region has gone through a lot, and perhaps land disputes should not always be handled in courts but through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR),” she said.
Abodo emphasised that courts may not be the best-placed to determine land boundaries, which are often deeply rooted in customary knowledge. Instead, she pointed to cultural leaders as key actors in resolving such disputes.
“It is not the courts that know these contested boundaries, but the cultural leaders who understand them better. Such matters may be better handled outside the formal court system,” she added.
She also stressed the need for public awareness to prevent exploitation in land-related conflicts.
“We need to sensitize communities so that people are not taken advantage of,” she noted.
Her remarks followed concerns raised by district leaders from across the Acholi sub-region, who highlighted growing manipulation of land disputes by powerful individuals.
The acting district chairperson of Amuru, George Oniba Ochan, alleged that wealthy and well-connected individuals are weaponising the justice system to intimidate local communities and leaders.
“Rich people are manipulating the civil matters of land to commit capital offences on us; we are suffering aggravated rape, defilement, and aggravated robbery just because a rich man wants the land of 100 people,” he said.
He called on the judiciary to intervene and protect communities from unjust prosecution tied to land ownership conflicts.
“We appeal to the judiciary to look into this matter so that people are not punished for land they rightfully own under customary systems,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson of Gulu District, Vicky Atim, pointed out logistical challenges affecting access to justice. She noted that many witnesses fail to attend court due to long distances.
“Beyond the issue of backlog, many witnesses cannot reach the court because of distance. We propose establishing a court at the new district headquarters in Awach to improve access to justice,” she said.
This piece strongly highlights a key tension in post-conflict northern Uganda: the clash between formal legal systems and customary land ownership practices. The push for ADR reflects a broader shift toward community-based justice, especially in regions where historical displacement has made land ownership both sensitive and contested.
Delayed ADR Rollout Slows Justice Reforms in Acholi
The implementation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the Acholi sub-region has faced delays, despite being introduced to help reduce the growing backlog of cases in courts.
ADR was championed by the Chief Justice Emeritus, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, as a key reform aimed at promoting faster and more community-based resolution of disputes, particularly land conflicts.
However, nearly a year after its rollout across the region, full implementation is yet to take effect.
The principal judge, Jane France Abodo, underscored the importance of informal justice systems, noting that they historically resolved many community disputes before the introduction of the formal court system during the colonial era.
Despite the official launch, the High Court Resident Judge, Odoki, said the process has stalled due to a lack of training among magistrates.
“This process is alive and ongoing, but we have realised that magistrates have not yet been trained. We can assure you that by next month (May), the training will be completed and full implementation will begin,” he said.
Justice Odoki announced that the ADR framework is expected to be fully operational starting in May, once all judicial officers are equipped with the necessary skills.
He emphasised that ADR is not new to the community, pointing out that traditional leaders have long used similar mechanisms to resolve disputes.
“This system has worked before, where community issues were handled by traditional chiefs,” he noted.
Voice-1: Justice Odoki talking about working with the traditional chiefs.
The delay drew concern from cultural leaders, including the Rwot of Pagik, Justine Ocitti Binyi, who questioned the slow pace of implementation.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Gulu, Florence Alanya Anna, said that elements of ADR are already being applied informally within the district, despite the absence of full operational rollout.
Justice Odoki commended traditional leaders for their role in supporting conflict resolution and strengthening collaboration with the judiciary.
“We will continue working with you to ensure cases are resolved amicably. As the judiciary, we shall be referring cases to you,” he said.
The delay highlights a capacity gap within the judiciary, particularly in training magistrates, but also reflects a broader transition from formal to hybrid justice systems—where courts increasingly rely on traditional and community structures to deliver timely justice
Case Delays Raise Concern
Community members attending the Open Court Day at the Gulu High Court Circuit have raised concerns over persistent delays in the hearing and disposal of cases.
The Resident Judge, Philip Odoki Okello, attributed the delays to critical staffing shortages within the court system. Currently, the circuit is served by only two judges and one registrar, a situation he says has overwhelmed the available personnel amid a rising caseload.
To address the growing pressure, the court is increasingly turning to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a system that draws on traditional conflict resolution mechanisms that have long been practised in the Acholi sub-region.
Justice Odoki acknowledged that the heavy workload can take a toll on judicial officers, further contributing to delays, and emphasised the need to embrace alternative approaches.
“We encourage the use of ADR because handling all these cases in court can be exhausting. If given the authority, we can refer some matters back to the chiefs, with the consent of all parties involved,” he said.
Under this approach, cases—especially land disputes—can be referred to traditional leaders, provided both parties agree to the process.
However, the judge noted that safeguards will be put in place to address potential challenges that may arise during ADR implementation, including conflicts of interest among traditional leaders.
“If a chief handles a case without involving all parties, we shall recall the file. Also, if the chief is related to any of the litigants, they will not be allowed to preside over the matter,” he explained.
Justice Odoki called on the community to embrace ADR, describing it as a timely and valuable intervention for a region still recovering from the effects of prolonged conflict.
Voice-2: Justice Odoki says ADR is God-sent.
“I urge you to support this initiative. It is one of the best approaches to resolving disputes in our region,” he added.
This section strengthens your broader narrative: justice delays are not just about inefficiency but capacity constraints, and ADR is being positioned as both a practical solution and a culturally relevant system in post-conflict Acholi.
