JUDICIARY Latest Features

(L-R): Hon. Justice Owiny - Dollo (Chief Justice), Hon. Lady Justice Elizabeth Alividza, President of IAWJ-UC, Hon. Justice Mike Chibitta (Justice of the Supreme Court)

The Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA) and the International Association of Women Judges -Uganda Chapter (IAWJ-UC) have officially launched the inaugural Annual UJOA and IAWJ-UC Leadership Dialogue at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala.

Presiding over the official opening, the Hon. Chief Justice and Patron of UJOA, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, described the dialogue as a milestone in strengthening leadership within the Judiciary.

"It is with pleasure that I welcome you to this inaugural Leadership Dialogue, "Justice Owiny - Dollo said, reminding the gathering of their profound responsibility to uphold justice, safeguard the rule of law, and ensure equitable access to justice for all Ugandans.

He emphasized that the Dialogue offered more than an exchange of ideas - it was an opportunity to reflect on a shared vision, confront challenges, and chart a path toward transformative leadership. Justice Owiny - Dollo urged participants to engage with open minds and challenge conventional thinking to meaningfully shape the future of Uganda's judiciary.

"Leadership within the Judiciary is about demonstrating initiative, inspiring positive change, and fostering a spirit of collaboration," he said.

The Chief Justice further recommended that the leadership dialogue become an annual event, commending UJOA and IAWJ-UC leaders for their initiative and the facilitators for sharing their expertise.

UJOA and IAWJ-UC Leaders Highlight Collaboration

UJOA President Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya noted that the current UJOA Executive was almost a year into their two-year term and that the leadership dialogue was a key activity in their strategic plan.

"We had to think carefully about the experts who would do justice to the topics," she said, acknowledging the collaborative efforts with IAWJ-UC to organize the event.

Justice Kazaarwe thanked Lady Justice Elizabeth Alividza, President of IAWJ-UC, for her strong support, as well as all attending Judicial Officers, particularly her colleagues from the High Court. She also appreciated Permanent Secretary Dr. Pius Bigirimana for offering the venue at no cost, and lauded the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, as a steadfast friend of UJOA.

Lady Justice Elizabeth Alividza, in her remarks, warmly welcomed participants to what she described asan essential collaboration between UJOA and IAWJ-UC.

"Leadership is not about power and control, but about service and the positive impact you have on others," Justice Alividza said, stressing that effective leadership starts with good followership.

She praised Justice Kazaarwe's leadership in spearheading the initiative, describing the dialogue as her "baby," and thanked the Judiciary's Top Management for their support.

Discussions

Hon. Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, is set to deliver the keynote address, framing the broader context and setting objectives for the dialogue.

Throughout the day, participants will engage in four in-depth panel discussions exploring key leadership themes:

• Integrity as the hallmark of a good leader, with Justice Mike Chibita (JSC), Ms. Sheila Koburungi (Africa CDC), and Justice Eudora Christina Dadson (High Court of Ghana) taking the lead.
• Compassion as a facilitator of resilient leadership, with Advocate Kabiito Karamagi Kenneth, Dr. Evas Kansiime Atwine, and Ms. Judith Namugenyi (MTN Group Fintech).
• Responsibility as a foundation for justice delivery, led by Hon. Lady Justice Solome Balungi Bbosa (International Criminal Court) and Prof. Juma Waswa Balunywa.
• Excellence in delivering  people-centred justice, featuring Dr. James Magara (Institute of National Transformation).

The dialogue is being moderated by Advocate Frederick J. Mpanga, and sessions are taking place both physically and virtually to ensure broader participation.

Setting The Stage for Future Leadership

The Dialogue stems from the Judiciary’s commitment under the Administration of the Judiciary Act, which calls for promoting honesty, integrity, and transparency among judicial officers. Both UJOA and IAWJ-UC envision strengthening leadership capacities to deliver people-centered justice and influence positive transformation across Africa.

The theme for this year's event is "Building Leaders to Deliver People-Centred Justice", with the aim of inspiring Judicial Officers and staff to become leaders who prioritize justice accessibility, integrity, and community engagement.