Uganda’s judiciary resists calls to end colonial-era court formalities

A growing debate is unfolding within Uganda’s legal community over whether centuries-old colonial traditions still belong in the country’s courtrooms. Lawyers have been pushing to scrap long-standing formalities such as bowing before judges and addressing them as “My Lord” or “My Lady,” arguing that such practices are relics of a bygone era. Judges, however, are resisting the push for change.

A clash over courtroom culture

The friction between members of the bar and the bench highlights a broader question about how post-colonial African states continue to navigate legal traditions inherited from the British colonial period. Critics within the legal profession argue that bowing and honorific titles reinforce a hierarchy that is inconsistent with the principles of equality before the law. They contend that modern courtrooms should reflect contemporary values rather than perpetuate customs designed to project judicial authority through formality and deference.

Supporters of change point out that several other common-law jurisdictions have already moved away from such practices, embracing more egalitarian conventions without undermining the dignity of the courts. They argue that respect for the judiciary can be expressed through conduct, decorum, and adherence to legal procedure rather than through gestures and archaic forms of address.

Judges defend long-standing norms

Uganda’s judges, however, have pushed back against the campaign. They maintain that the existing formalities serve an important purpose in preserving the solemnity and authority of the court. In their view, rituals such as bowing and the use of honorific titles are not merely symbolic gestures but functional elements that distinguish the courtroom from ordinary spaces and reinforce the gravity of judicial proceedings.

Judges have also expressed concern that abandoning these traditions could erode public confidence in the legal system, particularly at a time when the judiciary in Uganda continues to grapple with questions of independence and institutional credibility. Some within the bench have suggested that reforming courtroom culture is less urgent than addressing deeper challenges facing the justice system.

A wider conversation on legal identity

The dispute comes amid ongoing debates across Africa about the legacy of colonial legal institutions. Many countries on the continent inherited common-law systems from Britain, and questions about how much of that heritage to retain have surfaced periodically in parliaments, law schools, and the courts themselves. The outcome of the current exchange in Uganda could influence how similar discussions unfold elsewhere in the region, where legal traditions inherited from colonial administrations remain a subject of active reconsideration.

For now, the standoff between Uganda’s lawyers and judges shows no clear resolution, with both sides holding firm to their positions. The debate is likely to continue as the legal profession grapples with balancing institutional tradition against calls for a modern, more accessible justice system.

Source: BBC News — read the original report.