By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The Judiciary has revised the pecuniary (monetary) jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts following the enactment of the Magistrates Courts (Amendment Act 2026.”
According to an official communication by the Chief Registrar, H/W Agnes Alum on Wednesday, 20th May, 2026, forthwith a Chief Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to handle a civil matter with a value of up to Shs200, 000,000.
Meanwhile, a Magistrate shall have jurisdiction to handle a civil matter with a value of up to Shs100, 000,000.
“In light of the above amendment to Section 206 of the Magistrates Act, the public is hereby advised to file civil, land and commercial cases in the appropriate Magistrates Courts in accordance with the revised pecuniary jurisdictions,” reads the statement in part.
The notice is addressed to the general public, litigants, advocates and all court users.
Before the Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Act, 2026, the pecuniary (monetary) jurisdiction for civil disputes in Uganda was capped at Shs50 million for Chief Magistrates and Shs20 million for Magistrates Grade I.
These monetary limits were previously established in 2007. The 2026 amendment significantly increased these thresholds to relieve the High Court case backlog, bumping the civil limit to Shs200 million for Chief Magistrates and Shs100 million for other Magistrates.
