Kampala — A new law that allows magistrates to grant powers of administration of small estates has been formulated.

According to the deputy registrar of the Family Division of the High Court, David Ndikabona, the legislation covers estates of not more than sh50m.

Batema yesterday told The New Vision that the law also empowers Grade One magistrates to grant powers of administration for estates not more than sh20m.

"All the files that fall within the new jurisdictions shall be transferred from the High Court to the magistrates' courts," Batema stated.

"The law relieves the judges from the backlog of cases and offers them time to deal with serious cases."

He said the law was recently endorsed by the Attorney General, Khiddu Makubuya.