Entebbe – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Uganda’s new Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, at State House Entebbe.
During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his appointment and commended the Chief Justice, His Lordship Flavian Zeija, for his firm stance against corruption and inefficiency within the judicial system.
“I congratulate the Deputy Chief Justice, Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, and I also salute the aggressive spirit of the Chief Justice in fighting corruption,” President Museveni said.
The President recalled challenges that existed within the judicial system before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power, citing corruption and excessive emphasis on technical procedures at the expense of substantive justice.
When we were fighting in the bush, we had two major problems with the judicial system. One was corruption in the courts, where people could influence outcomes through bribery. The second was the lack of substance, where too much time was spent on procedures rather than delivering justice,” he noted.
President Museveni also reflected on traditional African justice systems, which combined both punitive and restorative approaches.
“Our traditional system was both retributive and restorative. If a member of one clan killed someone from another clan and if the clan of the one who was killed did not want revenge, there were mechanisms for compensation, accountability, reconciliation and forgiveness. It ensured justice while maintaining social harmony,” he said.
The President expressed satisfaction with ongoing reforms within the Judiciary, particularly efforts to combat corruption and promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which he said helps reduce case backlogs and saves time.
“I am glad that you are making progress in fighting corruption and addressing the issue of lack of substance in judicial processes. I am also happy with the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution, which saves time and resources,” he added.
President Museveni further welcomed the emergence of a younger generation of judicial officers.
“When we had just assumed power, many judges were older than me. Now it is the reverse; I am the oldest while most of you are young. That is a positive development,” he remarked.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Chief Justice Flavian Zeija congratulated President Museveni on his recent re-election and wished him success in his new term of office.
He thanked the President for ensuring timely appointments whenever vacancies arise within the Judiciary, saying the practice has strengthened service delivery and enhanced access to justice.
The Chief Justice also congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his appointment and reminded him that he was taking over an office that had undergone significant reforms.
“I left that office as a paperless court. I encourage you to continue with the digitization agenda and strengthen the systems we have put in place,” he said.
His Lordship Zeija highlighted ongoing efforts to establish an integrated judicial management system aimed at linking various courts and improving efficiency across the Judiciary.
He also pointed to reforms in court case listing, noting that in the past, some old cases would remain unresolved for decades while newer cases were prioritised, a practice that created opportunities for corruption.
“There must be a clear and transparent criterion for case allocation and listing. Cases should be handled fairly and according to established procedures,” he emphasized
The Chief Justice further proposed the establishment of a specialised unit to handle environmental and infrastructure related disputes, citing the growing importance of environmental justice in national development.
He assured the President that the Judiciary remains committed to making justice accessible to all Ugandans and expanding the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, which have proven effective in resolving disputes quickly and amicably.
In his remarks, Justice Kazibwe expressed gratitude to President
Museveni for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving in one of the country’s highest judicial offices.
“I am deeply grateful for the appointment, Your Excellency, and I will work tirelessly to serve the people of Uganda and uphold the Constitution,” he said.
Justice Kazibwe pledged to strengthen institutional systems within the Judiciary, embrace technology and support ongoing digital transformation efforts.
He also commended the President’s continued stand against corruption and committed himself to fighting corruption within the judicial system.
Before his appointment, Justice Kawuumi served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by the Attorney General Hon. Sam Mayanja, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, commissioners from the Judiciary, and other senior judicial officers.
