Kampala- A team from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has met with Flavian Zeija to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving access to justice and advancing judicial reforms in Uganda.
The meeting, held on Friday at the Court of Appeal building in Kampala, brought together UNDP officials led by Resident Representative Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor and senior Judiciary leadership to discuss the Chief Justice’s vision for the institution and explore opportunities for continued partnership.
Also present were Ms. Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, Team Leader for Governance and Peace at UNDP, Ms. Martha Agaba, Governance and Peace Officer, and HW Mwesigye Julius, Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice.
During the discussions, Justice Zeija revealed that the Judiciary had conducted targeted training for Judges of the High Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, and Justices of the Supreme Court in preparation for the 2026 General Elections. The training was supported by an Electoral Dispute Resolution Manual developed jointly by UNDP and the Judicial Training Institute. He noted that the High Court had successfully handled and disposed of about 91 pre-election petitions, mainly arising from decisions of the Electoral Commission, describing the manual as instrumental in ensuring timely case disposal.
On environmental justice, the Chief Justice reiterated plans to establish an Environmental and Infrastructure Division of the High Court to address the increasing number of environmental disputes. He said a committee would be constituted to guide its operationalisation, including infrastructure development, equipment procurement, and logistical arrangements, while calling for support from partners.
Justice Zeija also addressed concerns raised during Court Open Days, explaining that feedback from court users is reviewed and categorised into short-, medium-, and long-term interventions. However, he acknowledged the need for more systematic trend analysis to inform policy reforms.
Regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the Chief Justice outlined ongoing capacity-building initiatives targeting judicial officers, local and religious leaders, among other stakeholders. He disclosed that new Mediation Rules had been submitted to the Attorney General for clearance ahead of publication and said the Judiciary plans to strengthen private mediation and accreditation frameworks in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and private sector actors.
The Chief Justice further highlighted challenges in accessing justice in island communities, particularly remote islands such as Mazinga near the Tanzania border, where high transport costs hinder court attendance. He revealed that the Judiciary had begun acquiring boats to facilitate outreach and circuit services and intends to construct courts with integrated accommodation and solar power solutions in selected island locations. He appealed for additional support to procure more boats for courts serving such areas.
On commercial justice, Justice Zeija noted that substantial sums of money remain tied up in disputes, largely involving banks and insurance companies. He attributed the delays to limited judicial personnel, stagnant budgets, and inadequate technological tools. He expressed interest in expanding digital judgment-writing technologies, including AI-supported transcription, and increasing the number of judges to enhance efficiency.
He also underscored the Judiciary’s growing use of video conferencing to conduct hearings, pre-trial sessions, and prisoner appearances, which has helped reduce transport costs and case adjournments. Additionally, he supported formal launch events for completed installations to recognise partnerships and boost institutional visibility.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both the Judiciary and UNDP to deepen cooperation in strengthening Uganda’s justice system, improving service delivery, and enhancing access to justice for all citizens.
