Kampala– The Acting Chief Registrar, HW Lamunu Pamella Ocaya, on Thursday presided over a high-level meeting of Registrars from various Registries and Divisions to review draft case targets for the Financial Year 2026/2027.
The meeting, held at the Supreme Court Building Conference Hall in Kampala, focused on aligning performance benchmarks to enhance efficiency in the delivery of justice.
In her remarks, Lamunu underscored the central role of adjudication in the Judiciary’s mandate, stressing the need for continuous review of performance targets to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with institutional priorities.
“While we already have case targets in place, it is important that we periodically review and harmonize them across Divisions and Circuits. These targets will form the basis of our performance for the Financial Year 2026/2027,” she said.
She further highlighted the importance of inclusive participation, noting that the Registrars’ input reflects diverse operational realities across the Judiciary. According to Lamunu, such contributions are vital in ensuring that the final targets are informed by consultations with Heads of Divisions and supervisors.
The Acting Chief Registrar expressed optimism that the meeting would yield consensus, paving the way for a unified and coordinated approach to performance management in the coming financial year.
Providing technical guidance, Senior Statistician Isaac Bbossa Sserunkuma explained that the target-setting process is anchored in the national planning cycle and guided by historical performance data, available resources, and measurable indicators.
He noted that priority areas include case disposal, reduction of case backlog, improvement in case turnaround time, and the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms such as mediation, small claims, and plea bargaining.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Policy and Planning Simon Peter Opolot emphasized the need for realistic and achievable targets, cautioning that they must reflect the current number of judicial officers and available resources across courts.
During the meeting, participants raised concerns over limited funding, staffing gaps, and increasing case complexity, which they said could affect the attainment of set targets. They particularly called for enhanced operational support for mediation programmes.
The process is expected to culminate in the signing and endorsement of finalized performance targets for the Financial Year 2026/2027 by the Principal Judge, marking a key step in strengthening accountability and efficiency within the Judiciary.
