Uganda, April 19 -- A fresh constitutional petition has been filed challenging the legality of Local Council (LC) courts, arguing that they operate outside the framework of Uganda's supreme law and undermine the independence of the Judiciary.

The petition, lodged before the Constitutional Court, is brought by city lawyer Michael Aboneka, alongside Martins Kirya and the Walezi Wa Katiba Foundation.

They contend that Local Council courts, established under the Local Council Courts Act, are unconstitutional because they are not recognised as part of the formal judicial structure under the Constitution of Uganda.

In their April 16 petition, the petitioners argue that the law creates "courts which are not subordinate and competent courts as...