The Deputy Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, has called on judicial officers to translate lessons from recent training into faster case disposal and increased use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to ease the growing backlog in Uganda’s courts.
Dr. Zeija made the remarks on Friday while officially closing a two-tier training for judicial officers from the Central Region Cluster One, held at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall in Kampala. The sessions, conducted between October 27 and 31, 2025, focused on Case Management, Judgment Writing, ADR, and Criminal Trial Procedure.
Citing the Judiciary’s 2024/25 Performance Report, Dr. Zeija revealed that 197,903 cases remain pending, with 24.2 percent classified as backlog. He pointed to Entebbe, Wakiso and Mpigi High Court Circuits as some of the areas most affected, particularly by unresolved land-related cases.
“The true measure of the impact of this training lies in translating the lessons learned into enhanced case disposal and effective use of ADR mechanisms,” Dr. Zeija said.
He urged judicial officers to adopt innovative case management approaches and embrace leadership within the Judiciary to promote proactive rather than reactive court operations.
A major highlight of the training was the promotion of mediation as a tool for dispute resolution. Dr. Zeija announced that all participating officers had been appointed as Court-Accredited Mediators, each receiving a one-year renewable Instrument of Appointment.
“This appointment is not just a formality but an enabler for you to promote a judicial officer–mediator mindset,” he stated, adding that accountability and continuous improvement will be key to renewal.
The Deputy Chief Justice also commended the Uganda Police Force for collaborating in the training, particularly in integrating forensic science into adjudication, and encouraged officers to apply forensic insights in strengthening evidence-based judgments.
Representing the Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga, the Head of the Criminal Division, Justice David Matovu, lauded the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) and participants for their commitment. He noted that the government’s investment in forensic science is helping enrich criminal adjudication and harmonize standards of justice delivery.
The training was organized by the Judicial Training Institute as part of ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency, professionalism, and public trust in the Judiciary.
