KAMPALA– The Commercial Division of the High Court on Thursday held its Bar-Bench meeting at the Division premises in Kampala, bringing together Judges, Judicial Officers at the Court as well as advocates.
The meeting aimed at reviewing court performance, enhance collaboration, and reinforce the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving commercial disputes.
Presiding over the meeting, Lady Justice Anna B. Mugenyi, Head of the Commercial Division, welcomed both in-person and virtual participants. She highlighted the meeting’s objective as fostering constructive dialogue with the Bar, sharing performance updates, and reaffirming the Division’s commitment to ADR as a central pillar in the timely settlement of disputes.
Presenting performance statistics, Justice Mugenyi reported that the Division completed 7,849 cases in the last Financial Year, reflecting strong judicial commitment and efficiency. She noted that the Division held four Mediation Fortnights during the year, resulting in the amicable resolution of numerous matters. Adding that all Judges in the Division, as well as some Registrars at the Court, are certified mediators, actively supported by court-annexed mediators.
While applauding progress, she acknowledged persistent challenges to mediation, including non-attendance by parties, limited awareness among the public and legal practitioners, delayed responses, case suitability concerns, and resource constraints. As a remedy, she proposed referring cases to mediation at the issuance of summons for directions or during the scheduling stage to encourage early resolution.
Justice Mugenyi reaffirmed that a strong Bar-Bench relationship remains vital to judicial progress, underpinned by accountability, mutual respect, and open dialogue.
Lady Justice Susan Abinyo, Deputy Head of the Division, assured advocates of the Court’s open-door policy and commitment to timely, professional handling of matters.
HW Jessica Chemeri, Deputy Registrar at the Court, urged advocates to file mediation summaries ahead of the upcoming Mediation Fortnight, set for 18th–29th August 2025, to facilitate efficient scheduling.
From the stakeholder side, Mr. Jeffrey Atwine, Acting Commissioner for Civil Litigation at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, commended the Division for its achievements in reducing backlog, while Mr. Timothy Lugayizi of the Uganda Law Society hailed the Court’s consistency in implementing the quarterly Mediation Fortnight.
The hybrid meeting format enabled broad participation, with attendees including Justice Thomas Ocaya, Lady Justices Patricia Mutesi, Patricia Kahigi Asiimwe, and Dr. Melody Ginamia Ngwatu. Registrars and Magistrates Grade One attached to the Division were also in attendance.
