Zambian Chief Justice Studies Uganda’s Specialized Court Divisions, Hails Digital Justice Innovations
The Chief Justice of Zambia and Chairperson of the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum (ACJADRF), Justice Dr. Mumba Malila, has commended Uganda’s Judiciary for its innovative approach to justice delivery following a meeting with heads of Uganda’s specialized High Court Divisions.
The engagement, held as part of Justice Malila’s familiarization visit to Uganda, enabled the Zambian delegation to gain firsthand insight into the structure, operations, and legal framework underpinning Uganda’s specialized courts.
Addressing the meeting, Justice Malila introduced members of his delegation, including Lady Justice Ann Kachenga Malata of Zambia’s Economic and Financial Crimes Division and High Court Registrar Sangwani Nyimbiki. He explained that his visit was driven by a desire to understand how Uganda has successfully established and operationalized specialized court divisions.
“These divisions, let me just get an idea as to how they are created. Where does the power lie, and related to that, how many divisions do we have?” Justice Malila asked during the discussions.
Drawing comparisons with Zambia’s judicial system, he noted that the Zambian Constitution expressly provides for only a few specialized divisions, such as the Family and Children’s Division. However, other divisions, including Commercial and Industrial Relations courts, are not directly established under the Constitution.
Justice Malila revealed that a constitutional provision empowers the Chief Justice to create specialized courts through statutory instruments. Exercising that authority, he established a Financial Crimes Division, a decision that was subsequently challenged in court.
“Some lawyers and potential litigants raised concerns and challenged the decision in court. The matter eventually reached the Constitutional Court, which ruled that the Chief Justice indeed has the power to create such special courts,” he explained.
According to Justice Malila, the Constitutional Court’s interpretation has since provided a firm legal foundation for the creation of additional specialized courts in Zambia.
“We are now at a point where that one provision, through its interpretation, has effectively given the Chief Justice authority to create special courts known as divisions. I am currently considering the establishment of a Lands and Environment Court,” he said.
Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), described the visit as an important opportunity for judicial officers from both countries to exchange experiences and learn from one another.
Justice Khaukha noted that Justice Malila’s interest in Uganda’s specialized court divisions reflects broader efforts among African judiciaries to promote innovation, efficiency, and specialization in the administration of justice.
Presentations were made by heads of Uganda’s specialized courts, including Justice Michael Elubu, Head of the Anti Corruption Division; Justice David Matovu, Head of the Criminal Division; Lady Justice Anne Mugenyi Bitature, Head of the Commercial Division; Lady Justice Susan Okalany, Deputy Head of the International Crimes Division and Lady Justice Linda Tumusiime, the Head of the Industrial Court. The judicial officers highlighted their divisions’ jurisdiction, case management approaches, operational procedures, and key achievements.
Among the innovations that attracted significant interest from the Zambian delegation were the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) and the Judiciary’s plea bargaining programme.
The delegation commended ECCMIS for enhancing efficiency through electronic filing, digital payments, online case tracking, and document management. They also commended plea bargaining as an effective mechanism for reducing case backlog and accelerating the disposal of criminal matters.
Justice Malila and his team further applauded the Judiciary’s communication and public engagement strategy, noting the timely dissemination of information and regular updates provided through digital and social media platforms. The delegation observed that the Public Relations and Communications Registry offers valuable lessons for other judiciaries on the continent.
Concluding the meeting, Justice Malila thanked the heads of divisions for their candid presentations and insightful discussions, describing the engagement as highly informative and relevant to ongoing judicial reforms in Zambia.
He commended Uganda’s Judiciary for its commitment to court specialization, digital transformation, and alternative dispute resolution, expressing confidence that continued collaboration among African judiciaries would foster more efficient, accessible, and people-centred justice systems.
Justice Malila also underscored the importance of sustained engagement through regional judicial platforms such as the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum, noting that such forums provide critical opportunities for sharing best practices, addressing common challenges, and strengthening the rule of law across the continent.
Posted 17th, June 2026
