The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has urged Bar Course students to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a cornerstone of modern legal practice, emphasizing that effective lawyering should prioritize resolving disputes efficiently rather than prolonging courtroom battles.
Speaking as a guest lecturer to the Bar Course students at the Law Development Centre in Kampala, the Principal Judge encouraged the next generation of advocates to rethink the traditional adversarial approach to litigation and instead focus on solutions that meet the real needs of clients.
Addressing a packed lecture hall at the LDC campus on Makerere Hill Road, Lady Justice Abodo emphasized that clients primarily seek timely, affordable, and conclusive solutions to their disputes.
"ADR should be your strategic lawyering, not full litigation," she advised the students.
"You must always ask yourselves what the client truly wants. Most clients want speed, cost efficiency, and closure, not endless litigation."
She reminded the students that lawyers are fundamentally problem solvers, whose responsibility is to guide disputing parties toward workable solutions rather than escalate conflicts through prolonged legal battles.
The Principal Judge encouraged the students to explore the expanding opportunities within the ADR field, noting that the Judiciary and its justice-sector partners are increasingly investing in training in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other dispute resolution mechanisms.
Reflecting on the significance of the Law Development Centre, Lady Justice Abodo described the institution as one that holds deep meaning for both the Judiciary and the country.
"The Law Development Centre is a very special place to us in the Judiciary and to Uganda as a whole. It is where many of our legal journeys begin. Coming here always speaks to my heart, and I felt compelled to come and share with you on this timely and important topic."
She explained that although ADR is often viewed as a modern legal innovation, its foundations are deeply embedded in Africa’s traditional justice systems. Long before the establishment of formal courts, communities relied on clan elders ,mediators, and communal dialogue to settle disputes while preserving social harmony.
"ADR is therefore not foreign to us," she said. "It reflects the traditional African way of resolving conflict -through dialogue, mediation, and community consensus."
Lady Justice Abodo cautioned that justice systems plagued by prolonged delays risk losing public confidence. She observed that when disputes take years, sometimes decades, to resolve, communities may resort to informal or unlawful ways of seeking justice.
She also highlighted the damaging effects of adversarial litigation on relationships, noting that prolonged court battles often entrench hostility between parties and destroy commercial, family, and community ties.
By contrast, ADR mechanisms promote dialogue and compromise, enabling parties to reach mutually beneficial outcomes while preserving relationships.
The Principal Judge further noted that prolonged litigation places a heavy financial burden on litigants through legal fees, transport costs, and time lost attending court sessions, factors that often make justice inaccessible for many citizens.
Beyond individual disputes, she explained, unresolved commercial conflicts can undermine economic growth by discouraging investment.
"A strong ADR system signals that Uganda is open for business," she said. "It assures investors that disputes will be resolved quickly, fairly, and efficiently."
Lady Justice Abodo also outlined the various ADR mechanisms currently utilized within Uganda’s justice system. These include arbitration, a private and binding process governed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act; mediation, where a neutral mediator facilitates dialogue between disputing parties; and reconciliation, which is recognized under Article 126 of the Constitution and allows amicable settlement of certain personal offences.
She further highlighted plea bargaining in criminal matters, noting that since its introduction in 2014, more than 50,000 capital cases have been resolved through the process, significantly reducing case backlog and easing prison congestion.
Other mechanisms such as conciliation, where a neutral conciliator may propose settlement terms, and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) rooted in indigenous community practices, also form part of Uganda’s expanding ADR landscape.
Turning to the role of future advocates, the Principal Judge urged students to advise clients on all available dispute resolution options as part of their professional duty.
She encouraged them to develop strong skills in negotiation, mediation, and conflict management, stressing that the hallmark of an excellent advocate lies not merely in winning cases, but in securing meaningful and sustainable justice for clients.
"Identify opportunities for ADR early, at the pre-charge, pre-trial, and trial stages, rather than waiting until litigation has become deeply entrenched," she advised.
Lady Justice Abodo concluded by reminding the students that the true purpose of the law goes beyond courtroom victories.
"The ultimate purpose of law is not simply to win cases, but to resolve disputes, restore harmony, and serve the people," she said. "ADR provides the justice system with powerful tools to achieve this, faster, cheaper, and more inclusively."
She urged the students to embrace ADR not as a last resort, but as the first choice of a thoughtful and modern legal practitioner, noting that its proper utilization will ensure that justice in Uganda remains accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the people.
The Director of the Law Development Centre, Dr Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, thanked the Principal Judge for accepting the invitation to engage with the students.
"We are happy and honoured to have you as our guest speaker," Dr. Tibihikirra-Kalyegira said.
The lecture was attended by students at the Kampala campus, while the Mbarara, Mbale, and Lira campuses joined the session virtually.
