JUDICIARY Latest Features

Members of the Judiciary Audit Committee with the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Dr. Zeija (Middle)

Earlier today, members of the Judiciary Audit Committee held a high-level meeting with the Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, at the Supreme Court building in Kampala to review audit findings, discuss institutional challenges, and propose reforms aimed at improving efficiency in the administration of justice.

During the meeting, the Chief Justice addressed the persistent issue of case backlog, identifying two key drivers: individual performance of judicial officers and staffing levels across courts. He noted that historically, the Judiciary lacked structured mechanisms to assess individual performance, making it difficult to manage workloads effectively.

To address this gap, he explained, the Judiciary introduced quarterly performance reviews requiring judicial officers to account for cases handled and resources utilised. Although initially met with resistance, the reviews have since become institutionalised, enhancing accountability and contributing to backlog reduction.

Justice Zeija also raised concerns about excessive caseloads, citing the session system where a single judge is assigned up to 40 cases to be completed within 40 days, an approach previously based on assumptions about witness availability. He noted that reforms such as daily criminal hearings and targeted interventions, including pilot programmes for gender-based violence cases supported by development partners, are being implemented to reduce delays.

He further referenced the "Marshall Plan," initiated during his tenure as Principal Judge, which prioritized the allocation of additional sessions to high-volume stations such as Mbarara, Jinja, and Gulu. However, he noted that limited funding continues to constrain the Judiciary’s ability to scale such interventions.

On staffing, the Chief Justice observed that shortages extend beyond judicial officers to include state attorneys and non-judicial staff. He shared that deployment schedules are under review to address imbalances and ensure optimal utilisation of available human resources.

He also highlighted longstanding infrastructure challenges, noting that substandard court buildings have contributed to inefficiencies. He explained that the Judiciary has since developed standardised court designs, with local leaders and estate committees now tasked with supervising construction to ensure compliance with quality standards.

Addressing capacity building, Justice Zeija pointed out critical gaps in mentorship and training. He noted that, unlike in jurisdictions such as Tanzania where judicial officers undergo extended induction, Uganda's induction period has historically been limited to about one week. Plans are underway to extend induction to one month to better equip new officers with practical skills. He also emphasised ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of non-judicial staff.

Presenting the Committee's findings, the Chairperson, Retired Justice David K. Wangutusi, reported that approximately 50% of cases are not disposed of within constitutionally prescribed timelines, highlighting the scale of the backlog challenge.

He warned that assigning excessive workloads, such as 40 cases within 40 days, risks compromising the quality of justice and may lead to injustices. He also noted that although the Judiciary has made strides in promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including mediation and arbitration, these efforts remain underfunded.

Justice Wangutusi further identified several systemic challenges, including inadequate staffing in high-volume courts, weak bail management systems, limited retirement benefits for non-judicial staff, and a fleet of grounded or obsolete vehicles. He also raised concerns about poor accessibility for persons with disabilities, noting that many court buildings lack ramps and lifts.

Additional findings pointed to inadequate sanitation facilities, unreliable water supply, incomplete or poorly executed renovations, lack of furniture in some courts, and inconsistencies in payments to advocates handling state briefs.

To address these challenges, the Committee recommended a series of reforms, including convening stakeholder workshops to tackle backlog, increasing funding for ADR mechanisms, and expanding in-house court sessions in high-volume jurisdictions.

The Committee also called for a comprehensive review of staffing levels to align personnel with workload demands, including consideration of temporary judicial appointments and engagement of senior advocates where necessary. It further recommended strengthening training and mentorship programmes, streamlining bail refund processes at the court level, improving retirement benefits for non-judicial staff, and rehabilitating or replacing the Judiciary's fleet.

Other key recommendations included enhancing accessibility in court infrastructure, ensuring stakeholder involvement in court planning and construction, enforcing contractor accountability, standardizing staff deployment policies, aligning payments to state brief advocates with legal provisions, and equipping courts with adequate facilities to support effective service delivery.

Established under the Administration of the Judiciary Act, the Judiciary Audit Committee serves as a critical oversight body to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in the Judiciary's financial and operational systems.

The meeting was attended by Committee members; Ms. Betty Kasimbazi, Mr. DanBadebye, Eng. Olur Francis Osmond, and Mr. Anthony Mary Mfashingabo, alongside the Committee Secretary, Mr. Ssenyonga Bashir, the Judiciary Assistant Commissioner Audit. Also present was HW Mwesigye Julius, Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice.