KAMPALA– The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, today chaired a Case Management Committee meeting at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall, Judiciary headquarters, focusing on strategies to clear the Courts’ growing case backlog.
The meeting began with a presentation by Senior Statistician Mr. Isaac Bbossa Sserunkuma, who gave a detailed recap of the key findings from the 2025 National Court Census. His presentation laid the foundation for further discussions on the challenges highlighted in the report and possible solutions.
Justice Dr. Zeija emphasized the urgency of implementing practical solutions to address the concerns raised in the 2025 Judiciary National Court Case Census Report.
This meeting is about finding solutions and strategies to address the issues raised in the report,” he said.
The Committee resolved to prioritize the identification of long-pending cases and assign them to judicial officers in their respective regions to fast-track resolution.
The Committee also recommended a detailed investigation, to be undertaken through the Office of the Chief Registrar, to understand why certain cases have remained unresolved for years. This would involve mapping the affected cases and investigating the root causes, whether related to staffing, case management processes, or external factors beyond the Judiciary’s control. A report would then be compiled with the findings and proposed actions. It was suggested that this investigation be phased, focusing on specific periods to determine whether delays were caused by hearing gaps or other systemic challenges.
Key strategies discussed included expanding the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms especially Mediation, deploying visiting judges to high-volume areas, and considering amendments to extend magistrates’ jurisdiction, supported by targeted training. Members also emphasized the need for quarterly data updates, emergency backlog clearance sessions, and closer monitoring of judicial innovations such as plea bargaining.
Justice Dr. Zeija commended the committee members for their commitment, noting that their recommendations would play a vital role in strengthening case management and improving access to justice.
The meeting was attended by members of the Case Management Committee and the technical team behind the 2025 National Court Census
