KAMPALA- On Thursday evening, the Chief Justice, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny – Dollo,chaired a dinner meeting at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel to discuss access to justice as a fundamental driver of progress.
The dinner meeting which was hosted by the Austrian Embassy was also in recognition of the visit of Mr. Bernd Brünner, Managing Director of the of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Mr Brünner is in Uganda to engage with key national stakeholders on priority development issues.
In his remarks, Chief Justice Owiny – Dollo expressed deep appreciation for Austria’s sustained support, describing the country as “one of Uganda’s greatest development partners.” He emphasized
the importance of continued collaboration, transparency, and the effective use of Austrian taxpayer contributions.
“Austria has consistently played a major role in enhancing Uganda’s justice sector,” the Chief Justice said. “This dinner is both a gesture of appreciation and a platform to reflect on how much more we can achieve together. We deeply value the partnership and the resources entrusted to us, and we are committed to using them to bring justice closer to the people. Austria is not only our partner, it has become family to us.”
Mr. Brünner, on his first official visit to Uganda as ADA Managing Director, reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to deepening support for Uganda’s justice and governance reforms.
“This is a long-standing partnership, and tonight has demonstrated how strong and valued it truly is,” he noted. “I am here to listen, to learn about your work, and to understand how we can further support Uganda. The more success stories we collect from countries like Uganda, the easier it becomes to justify additional support back home.”
Dr. Katja Yvonne Kerschhaumer, the Head of Office for the Austrian Embassy/Development Cooperation, underscored Austria’s commitment to tackling persistent justice sector challenges.
“The justice sector is a priority for us,” she said. “We must continue working together to address issues
like case backlog, pretrial detention, legal aid, and the quality of legal representation by state attorneys. Tools such as digital case tracking and documentation systems are vital to driving meaningful reform.”
She hailed the strong collaboration between Austrian and Ugandan institutions and called for ongoing dialogue and innovation.
Ms. Rachael Odoi, Senior Technical Advisor for the Governance and Security Programme, highlighted key achievements of the Austria–Uganda partnership, including the Judiciary’s transformational agenda, improved forensic capabilities in the Uganda Police, and capacity-building initiatives to address case backlog and enhance service delivery.
Austria’s support has played a critical role in empowering justice institutions to serve the public more effectively and fairly,” Ms. Odoi observed.
The evening concluded with guests sharing reflections, celebrating joint successes, and reaffirming their commitment to advancing justice together.
Among the notable attendees were the Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Erasmus Twaruhukwa; Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations, SCP Beata Chelimo; Deputy Head of Office for the Austrian Embassy/Development Cooperation, Ms. Farukuoye Beate; and Ms.Lydia Nabiryo, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Equity and Rights at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
