The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council is urging Parliament to fast-track the Khadi Courts Bill 2026. The bill was gazetted in February 2026, and is currently undergoing the due parliamentary processes. If successful, it will subject all Ugandans, including Christians and other non-Muslims to Islamic personal law.

The system would enable matters relating to family, marriage, divorce, investment and contracts to be litigated according to Islamic law and principles. This would radically change the Ugandan court system and could mean that Christians will be forced to adjudicate and abide by the rulings of a court system that does not recognize their faith or legal rights.

“Uganda’s proposed Sharia courts bill would subject Christians and other non-Muslims to Islamic law, while undermining fundamental rights — especially for women, children, and religious converts,” notes Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International.

In the way these courts will be structured in the local judiciary system, non-Muslims will not be able to “seek justice in the civil court system when there is a family, custody, or inheritance dispute involving a Muslim who pursues a lawsuit within the Qadhis court system”. On paper, a person can appeal to the “High Court, but any such appeal must be heard by a Muslim judge and four Muslim scholars, with no further appeals available”.

The advocates for the legislation, however, argue that Article 129(1)(d) of the Constitution of Uganda allows such a system to be set up pursuant to the laws of Uganda and that the implementation of such supplemental legal avenues are long overdue.

While it is in the committee stage where it will be scrutinized by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the Qadhis Courts Bill can be opposed. The committee might invite religious leaders, civil society and legal experts to do so during this stage. This committee will prepare a report with recommendations to parliament.