Local council leaders in Dokolo District have been urged to discourage residents from carrying out illegal evictions and instead use established court procedures and mediation to resolve land and other community disputes.
The call was made on Tuesday, September 22, during the closure of a one-day sensitisation meeting on the Small Claims Procedure (SCP) held at Dokolo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Dokolo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Barbra Akech said local council leaders are often the first point of contact for residents involved in disputes and should therefore understand available legal avenues for resolving conflicts.
Akech said the training had brought together leaders from areas affected by land disputes, eviction-related conflicts, theft, and other community cases. She cautioned residents against evicting people from land without valid court orders, noting that some individuals had attempted to remove occupants based on decisions made by lower-level courts.
Akech also commended Dokolo District for its efforts in recovering and returning money obtained by beneficiaries of government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), but stressed that such recoveries must be handled in accordance with guidelines governing the respective programmes.
Her Worship Mastulla Mulondo, the Assistant Registrar in charge of Small Claims Procedure in the Judiciary, said the mechanism was introduced in 2012 to provide a faster and less costly way of resolving straightforward commercial disputes. Se said the procedure covers claims below Shs10 million, including debts, simple contracts, and friendly loans.
According to Mulondo, parties under the procedure can represent themselves, use languages they understand, and obtain the necessary forms from court without engaging lawyers. She said cases filed under the procedure are expected to be concluded within 30 days, with decisions generally final, subject to limited review or revision where there are procedural or record-related errors.
Mulondo said the Judiciary conducted the sensitisation in Dokolo after statistics showed that the registration of small claims at the court remained low.
Local council leaders from Dokolo Town Council, Dokolo Sub-county, Kangai, and Adeknino were targeted because they frequently receive complaints from residents before matters reach formal courts.
Mulondo clarified that LC1 courts have jurisdiction over claims of up to Shs2 million, advising leaders to refer matters beyond their jurisdiction, as well as complex cases, to the Chief Magistrate’s Court. She also encouraged LC1 leaders to mediate disputes where possible, saying alternative dispute resolution can help communities settle conflicts without prolonged court proceedings.
Dokolo Grade One Magistrate His Worship Vincent Muzeyi urged local council leaders to understand the limits of their powers and seek guidance from the Chief Magistrate’s Court whenever they are uncertain about how to handle a case.
Muzeyi warned local counci leaders against using their positions to illegally evict people from land, saying such actions are unlawful and can attract punishment. He said parties dissatisfied with decisions of lower-level courts have avenues to seek confirmation or appeal at the Chief Magistrate’s Court rather than taking matters into their own hands.
The magistrate also urged local leaders to embrace mediation, saying prolonged disputes can keep residents away from farming and other productive activities.
Muzeyi further assured residents that court services at Dokolo are free from corruption, including bail, and warned against giving magistrates or court staff money, gifts, or other items in exchange for services. He encouraged residents with complaints or concerns about court services to seek guidance from the court and use the available complaint and toll-free channels instead of relying on rumours or misinformation.
The sensitisation brought together LC1 and LC2 leaders from selected parts of Dokolo District and was aimed at strengthening their understanding of the Small Claims Procedure, their jurisdiction and other lawful mechanisms for resolving community disputes.