Kampala — The Judiciary has announced plans to open informal courts that would resolve small claims and disputes within a day.

The new courts, expected to start operation by January next year, will benefit the poor and other marginalised groups who cannot afford or access the formal courts system, Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki said.

"It is informal, simple and expeditious. We are now moving to mediation," he added. "If you want to claim your small debt, you will spend only one day or even less in court and have your matter resolved," the Chief Justice explained.

He was speaking last Friday at a workshop in Kampala to examine draft procedures and guidelines for the new court. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire of the Commercial Court Division in Kampala said the new courts would deal with civil claims, whose subject matter value does not exceed Shs10 million. Cases against the State will, however, not be admitted before the courts.

In an interim report authored by Justice Kiryabwire and two others, a commissioner will be appointed by the Chief Justice from within the Judiciary to hear and settle cases in the small claims courts. "No advocate or lawyer may appear on your behalf (claimant)," reads the report.

"The Judiciary has identified as a priority, reform of the institution's basic operating environment to promote access to justice," Justice Kiryabwire explained.

There are up to 82,285 cases pending in the courts, a judiciary statement to Parliament recently indicated. But the new courts, if introduced could tremendously cut down case backlog.