The Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court on Thursday held a special sitting and luncheon in honour of the outgoing Deputy Chief Justice, Flavian Zeija, celebrating his elevation to the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda. The event took place at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall in Kampala and brought together Justices and judicial staff to recognize his service and leadership.
In his remarks, Justice Zeija described the occasion as both humbling and emotional, marking the close of an important chapter in his judicial career.
He reflected on his tenure at the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court, noting that although it was demanding, it was also highly fulfilling due to strong teamwork, collegiality, and institutional support.
“Serving in this Court has been one of the greatest honours of my professional life. Together, we have borne the responsibility of interpreting the law and administering justice to the people of Uganda,” he said, emphasizing the Court’s central role in upholding the rule of law.
He praised the Justices for their intellectual rigour and dedication, saying their robust deliberations have strengthened Uganda’s jurisprudence and reinforced the Court’s core values.
He also appreciated the support staff for their professionalism, which he said has been key in ensuring timely and quality delivery of judgments.
Looking ahead, Justice Zeija acknowledged the persistent challenge of case backlog at the Court of Appeal but expressed optimism that it will improve once the statutory number of Justices is fully attained.
He further pledged continued engagement with the Court, including quarterly visits to support efforts aimed at enhancing justice delivery.
Moving the motion to record the special sitting, Geoffrey Kiryabwire noted that the meeting was convened to formally appreciate and congratulate the Chief Justice for his leadership during his tenure as Deputy Chief Justice.
He commended him for providing clear vision and direction, which he said greatly strengthened the Court’s work.
“You know the challenges, aspirations, and needs of this Court. There is no one better placed than you to support its continued growth,” Justice Kiryabwire said, urging him to remain closely connected to the Court.
The motion was seconded by Fredrick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende and Hellen Abulu Obura. Justice Egonda-Ntende praised Justice Zeija’s leadership, noting that it had strengthened collegiality and institutional unity within the judiciary.
“Our loss is the gain of the entire Judiciary,” he remarked, expressing confidence in his ability to steer the institution in fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
Justice Obura highlighted his commitment to reducing case backlog and fighting corruption, as well as his empathy and concern for the welfare of judicial officers. She noted that he consistently demonstrated supportive and people-centred leadership.
Representing the Court of Appeal Users Committee, Norah Matovu commended Justice Zeija’s rise through the judiciary, from High Court Judge to Principal Judge, Deputy Chief Justice, and now Chief Justice, describing his leadership as innovative and transformative.
She also pointed to improvements in case management systems aimed at speeding up case disposal, while urging urgent attention to the backlog of over 12,700 cases and the filling of judicial vacancies up to the statutory ceiling of 35 Justices to improve access to justice, especially for vulnerable court users.
