Kampala– The Judiciary in Uganda has announced a major shift to a fully paperless court system, with all courts set to adopt electronic processes under the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) effective June 1, 2026.
According to the administrative circular dated February 17, 2026, signed by Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, the move is aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.
The Chief Justice pointed out that the transition is in line with Article 126 of the Constitution, which requires the Judiciary to administer justice efficiently and without undue technicalities.
Under the new paperless regime, all court processes, including filing, service, and acknowledgment of documents, will be conducted electronically through ECCMIS. Manual filing of court documents will cease in all courts where the system is operational, and physical case files will no longer be created or maintained except under exceptional circumstances.
The directive also restricts the use of ECCMIS kiosks at court premises to self-represented litigants. Judicial officers will be required to conduct proceedings, manage cases, and deliver rulings using the electronic system, while monthly performance statistics for courts and judicial officers will be generated from ECCMIS.
Chief Justice Zeija emphasized that judicial officers and court staff must ensure strict compliance with the directive and maintain up-to-date statistical data within the system at all times. The circular further states that compliance with the new measures is mandatory for all judicial officers and Judiciary staff.
The move is expected to streamline court operations, reduce paperwork, and improve case management across the country’s justice system.
