Interesting News about Traditional Judicial System of Lugbara People in Uganda
by Twinomugisha Charles

Uganda is Composed of Bantu and Luo People .The Lugbara people are a group of Luo people in Uganda Lugbara in Uganda are found in West Nile. There are among the biggest tribes that make Modern Uganda. Like any tribe in Uganda, they have their distinguished cultural way of handling cultural affairs and judicial system which was interesting and I feel much happy to share it with you in this article..

 Before the coming of English law to Uganda and before the colonial rule, the Lugbara had a judicial system that is still admired by the current people although much of it has changed. On this article we have compiled the way how it was undertaken and hope you will find it interesting.

 Any affairs which affected the clan would be handled by the lineage and clan heads. Normally, minor offences would be settled by the lineage heads but serious ones required clan heads. Examples of such serious cases included killing a relative, adultery, unpaid loans and the more serious forms of wizardly, witch craft and sorcery.

 The lineage court comprised of all family heads and it was presided over by the lineage head. The clan court was a higher court comprising of all the lineage heads who often co-opted other notables and some wealth men if they deemed it appropriate.

 Court proceedings usually took place under a big tree in the compound and trials were conducted in privacy. As a matter of fact, women and children were not allowed to linger around the area unless they were called upon as witnesses.

 In an intra-clan affair, a murderer was fined a bull for the murder if a man and a cow for the murder of a woman. In cases of adultery, it was fashionable to give a bull to the affected husband. Incest was also abhorred and in case it took place, the male relative of the girl was fined a sheep which was slaughtered and eaten by the family to cleanse the sin.

 Inter-clan cases were more serious than intra-clan ones. An intra-clan adultery case for instance, was serious enough to require a capital punishment. If caught red- handed, the man would be killed or if he was lucky enough he would have his sexual organs maimed.

 In cases of fornication, the boy would be held as ransom until he agreed to marry the girl or paid an appropriate fine. Failure to comply would also lead to the maiming of his sexual organs. Unsettled loans would also lead to war between the clans. The birth ceremonies varied from clan to clan and others from village to village.
 
 
 

About the Author
 <strong>Twinomugisha Charles</strong> is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda.More of his articles about Lugbara People can be found at Lugbara People and their Culture in Uganda and at Uganda and its People's Culture