The Uganda Bar Association has introduced sweeping changes to courtroom practice, directing lawyers to stop bowing to judges and discontinue the use of colonial-era honorifics as part of efforts to reform the country’s judicial culture.
The directive, which took immediate effect, was contained in an executive order signed by the association’s president, Isaac Ssemakadde, on Tuesday.
The order was issued to coincide with Saba Saba Day, an annual commemoration of resistance against authoritarianism in East Africa.
In the directive, the association alleged that Uganda’s judiciary has been weakened by executive interference, delays in the administration of justice, judicial corruption, selective justice and attacks on lawyers.
It also accused the military of undermining judicial independence through unlawful arrests, court invasions, the detention of civilians, obstruction of lawyers and journalists, and the trial of civilians before military tribunals.
According to the association, the problems have been reinforced by an outdated colonial courtroom culture that places judicial officers above citizens through compulsory displays of deference.
Under the new rules, lawyers are prohibited from bowing or engaging in any other form of physical subservience before judges and magistrates.
The association also abolished the use of traditional courtroom titles such as “My Lord”, “Your Lordship”, “My Lady”, “Your Ladyship” and “Your Worship”.
Instead, lawyers are to address appellate court judges as “Mr. Justice” or “Madam Justice”, High Court judges as “Mr. Judge” or “Madam Judge”, and magistrates as “Mr. Magistrate” or “Madam Magistrate”. Judicial officers may also be addressed by their surnames where appropriate.
The Bar further instructed lawyers and litigants to “stand upright and speak as free citizens”, saying members should no longer observe courtroom rituals that subject citizens to humiliation while elevating public officials.
As part of the reforms, the association announced that it would begin nationwide consultations within 90 days to review judicial dress, courtroom language and other court practices.
The consultation will consider whether colonial wigs, gowns and foreign-language requirements should be replaced with alternatives that better reflect Uganda’s history, culture and climate.
It will also review the judiciary’s client charter to ensure it is written in plain language and guarantees citizens’ rights to respect, timely service, access to information and effective redress.
