KAMPALA– The Judiciary on Friday concluded its Mediation Performance Review Meeting at the Court of Appeal Building Conference Hall, bringing together judicial officers, accredited mediators, registrars, and magistrates from across the country.
Closing the meeting on behalf of the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera, Deputy Chief Justice Emeritus, commended participants for their active engagement and formally adopted the resolutions reached during the discussions.
The resolutions highlighted the need for continuous capacity building, with regular refresher and advanced training sessions for court-accredited mediators, mediation clerks, advocates, and registry staff. Courts were also urged to improve internal systems to ensure timely referral of cases
suitable for mediation, supported by active case tracking and regular feedback to judicial officers.
It was agreed that the Mediation Registry should develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to assess mediation performance, settlement rates, and compliance with timelines across all courts. Participants further tasked the Mediation Registry with designing a public sensitization strategy to increase awareness of mediation as a credible, accessible, and cost-effective tool for dispute resolution.
The meeting underscored the importance of institutional support, calling for greater budgetary and logistical facilitation, including the provision of dedicated mediation
rooms and facilitation for mediators. Funding allocations, it was agreed, should be based on the number of mediators operating within each region or court.
Mediators were encouraged to remain flexible within the new rules, with registrars authorized to grant extensions beyond the 60-day limit where necessary. Each registry will also set performance targets to guide reporting, with future reports distinguishing between main suits, appeals, and applications.
In his closing remarks, Justice Buteera acknowledged the strides made in advancing mediation but pointed out persisting challenges such as inadequate office space.
He expressed optimism that these will be addressed, stressing that quarterly performance review meetings will be vital in consolidating progress.
“Overall, mediation has taken off very well,” Justice Buteera said. “These quarterly meetings will go a long way in improving coordination, accountability, and overall performance.”
