Judiciary to create 46 Magistrate Courts in Lango
Chief Justice,Hon.Alfonse Owiny Dollo Chigamoy
By Denis Okello and Bonny Otim Ogwal (editor@vol.co.ug)
Lira City
Judiciary plans to create a total 46 Magistrate Courts in Lango that will see 10 Chief Magistrate and 36 other Magistrate Courts established starting in the next financial year 2024/2025.
According to the news release of 7th June 2024 signed by the Judiciary Public Relations Officer Eremye James and Principal Communications Officer Sheila Wamboga, Chief Justice, Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny – Dollo, in consultation with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, issued the Magistrates Courts (Magisterial Areas and Magistrates Courts) Instrument 2024 No. 11 that will see each district headed by a Chief Magistrate.
The new Statutory Instrument created 157 new Magisterial Areas and 696 in the Country.
Owiny Dollo noted that the target is to ensure that all District/City Courts are headed by Chief Magistrates, while County/Constituency Courts manned by a Magistrate Grade I.
In Lango Sub region, each of the 10 Districts and City will get a new Chief Magistrate Court and 36 Magistrate Courts established in the different counties/sub-counties.
According to the list of the new Magisterial areas, the grade one Magistrates courts will be opened in Abako and Omoro for Alebtong district, Namasale, Aputi and Awello for Amolatar District, Akokoro, Chegere and Ibuje for Apac district, and Agwata town council, Bata town council, Kangai as well as Kwera Sub County for Dokolo district.
In Kole district, the same courts will be opened in Bala, in Kwania it will be established in Nambieso and Inomo, while for Lira district, it will be opened in Amach town council and Ogur and Lira city will get a chief magistrate court.
In Oyam district, the grade one magistrates’ court will be in Aber, Minakulu and Otwal, while in Otuke district the courts will be in Adwari, Okwang and Olilim.
Otuke District will have the magistrate courts established on Adwari, Olilim and Okwang.
Commenting on the creation of the new magisterial courts, Law Development Center Lecturer, Dr. Aadams Makmot Kibwanga says the development will bring judicial services closer to the people.
FULL LIST OF THE NEW MAGISTERIAL AREAS TO BE CREATED IN LANGO
| No. | Name of Magisterial Area | Extent of Magisterial Area | Magistrates Courts | |
| 1. | Alebtong | Alebtong District | Chief Magistrate – Alebtong District Magistrate Grade 1 – Alebtong District Magistrate Grade 1 – Abako in Ajuri County Magistrate Grade 1 – Omoro in Ajuri County Magistrate Grade 1 – Apala in Moroto County |
| 2. | Amolatar | Amolatar District | Chief Magistrate – Amolatar District Magistrate Grade 1 – Amolatar District Magistrate Grade 1 – Namasale in Kioga County Magistrate Grade 1 – Aputi in Kioga North County Magistrate Grade 1 – Awello in Kioga North County | |
| 3. | Apac | Apac District | Chief Magistrate – Apac District Magistrate Grade 1 – Apac District Magistrate Grade 1 – Apac Municipal Court Magistrate Grade 1 – Akokoro in Maruzi County Magistrate Grade 1 – Chegere in Maruzi North County Magistrate Grade 1 – Ibuje Town Council in Maruzi North County |
| 4 | Dokolo | Dokolo District | Chief Magistrate – Dokolo District Magistrate Grade 1– Dokolo District Magistrate Grade 1– Agwata Town Council in Dokolo North County Magistrate Grade 1– Bata Town Council in Dokolo North County Magistrate Grade 1– Kangai in Dokolo South County Magistrate Grade 1– Kwera in Dokolo South County | |
| 5 | Kole | Kole District | Chief Magistrate –Kole District Magistrate Grade 1 – Kole District Magistrate Grade 1 – Aboke in Kole North County Magistrate Grade 1 – Bala in Kole South County |
| 6 | Kwania | Kwania District | Chief Magistrate –Kwania District Magistrate Grade 1 – Kwania District Magistrate Grade 1 – Nambieso in Kwania County Magistrate Grade 1 – Inomo in Kwania North County |
| 7 | Lira | Lira District | Chief Magistrate –Lira Magistrate Grade 1– Lira Magistrate Grade 1– Amach Town Council in Erute County South Magistrate Grade 1– Ogur in Erute County North | |
| 8 | Lira City | Lira City | Chief Magistrate – Lira City Magistrate Grade 1– Lira City |
| 9 | Otuke | Otuke District | Chief Magistrate –Otuke District Magistrate Grade 1– Otuke District Magistrate Grade 1– Adwari Town Council in Otuke County Magistrate Grade 1– Okwang in Otuke County Magistrate Grade 1– Olilim Town Council in Otuke East County |
| 10 | Oyam | Oyam District | Chief Magistrate –Oyam District Magistrate Grade 1– Oyam District Magistrate Grade 1– Aber in Oyam County South Magistrate Grade 1– Minakulu in Oyam County South Magistrate Grade 1– Otwal in Oyam County North |
