(L-R): Lady Justice Elizabeth Jane Alividza, President of IAWJ-U, and Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, the Association Vice President,the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo
The leadership of the International Association of Women Judges Uganda (IAWJ-U)yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, in her chambers at the Judiciary headquarters.
The delegation comprised Lady Justice Elizabeth Jane Alividza, President of IAWJ-U, and Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, the Association Vice President. The visit was intended to welcome the Principal Judge and brief her on the work of the Association, which brings together women judges and currently has a membership of about 100 members.
During the meeting, Lady Justice Alividza highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Association, including the development of the Succession Resource Book, which aims to support family justice in courts by providing guidance on succession matters.
The delegation also shared the Association's focus on empowering young people and children through outreach programmes. Among these initiatives are inter-university engagements and community outreach activities in areas such as Bombo, where sanitary pads are distributed to support the girl child to remain in school. The members emphasized the importance of engaging young girls directly to better understand their challenges and find practical ways to address them.
The judges also sought guidance from the Principal Judge on how the Association could collaborate with her office to maximize their impact and support her mandate. They further requested that she considers serving as the Patron of the Association. In response, the Principal Judge noted that she would review the request and provide feedback in due course.
Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo welcomed the members and commended the Association for its strong support for women and girls. She also confirmed her willingness to participate in the upcoming international meeting scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria.
She hailed the Association's focus on empowering girls, noting that women sometimes hold themselves back and must develop the confidence and courage to make important decisions. She encouraged the members to pursue partnerships that can expand the reach and impact of their programmes.
The Principal Judge also welcomed the proposal for an additional day for the quarterly performance review and emphasized the importance of integrating the Judiciary Gender Policy into the Judiciary Strategic Plan, noting that judicial wellness remains an important tool for improving performance within the institution.
She thanked the members for representing women judges with distinction and wished them success in their continued work.
The meeting concluded with a prayer led by Lady Justice Kazaarwe.
Posted 11th, March 2026
