Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo on Monday formally handed over office to the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, marking the conclusion of his five-year tenure at the helm of Uganda’s Judiciary.
The handover ceremony, attended by judicial and non-judicial officers, saw Justice Owiny-Dollo present Justice Zeija with key instruments of office, including the Constitution, the Laws of Uganda, the Administration of the Judiciary Act, and a comprehensive handover report to guide the transition.
In his farewell remarks, Justice Owiny-Dollo expressed deep gratitude to the Judiciary’s top management and the wider judicial family for their support throughout his term.
He described the Judiciary as his “second family” and said he would always remain a permanent member of the institution.
He also emphasized his commitment to concluding all pending matters before him, even as he retires from active judicial service.
Justice Zeija paid glowing tribute to the outgoing Chief Justice, praising his participatory and transformational leadership, particularly during the early stages of his tenure when he championed a far-reaching Judiciary transformation agenda.
He highlighted Justice Owiny-Dollo’s role in securing a significant increase in the Judiciary’s budget, advancing the Africanisation of Uganda’s Judiciary through initiatives such as the African ADR Forum, and strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
He further recalled Justice Owiny-Dollo’s earlier contribution to national peace efforts, notably his role in initiating negotiations between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), describing him as a leader who consistently empowered others and created space for effective performance.
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, described Justice Owiny-Dollo as a mentor, teacher, and source of inspiration, commending his patient, wise, and consultative leadership style.
She noted that his leadership was instrumental in re-engineering Alternative Dispute Resolution and Alternative Justice Systems, reforms that have had a lasting impact on the justice sector.
Lady Justice Abodo also observed that the introduction and expansion of Plea Bargaining under his tenure transformed criminal procedure by reducing case backlogs, easing pressure on courts, prosecutors, witnesses, and victims, and promoting more restorative justice outcomes.
She added that these reforms strengthened the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and significantly accelerated case disposal.
On a personal note, she thanked Justice Owiny-Dollo for the warm reception and guidance he offered her upon her appointment as Principal Judge, which she said made her transition smooth and effective.
The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, applauded the outgoing Chief Justice for his strong support of the Judiciary’s 15-point programme, particularly in promoting financial discipline and accountability.
He also commended his steadfast leadership during the successful campaign for increased budgetary allocation to the Judiciary.
The Acting Chief Registrar, HW Lamunu Pamella Ocaya, described the ceremony as a moment of transition, reflection, and gratitude.
She hailed Justice Owiny-Dollo’s distinguished and selfless service to the nation, noting that he led with integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice.
She said his stewardship strengthened judicial systems, enhanced professionalism, and reaffirmed the Judiciary’s constitutional mandate to dispense justice fairly, independently, and without fear or favour, especially for vulnerable and ordinary Ugandans.
Throughout the ceremony, Justice Owiny-Dollo was widely praised for his humility, resilience, and deep appreciation of Uganda’s cultural diversity, attributes colleagues said defined his leadership and legacy at the Judiciary.
