JUDICIARY Latest Features

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Justice Designate, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, flagged off a two-day Refresher Training of Trainers (ToT) on Gender-Responsive Adjudication for judicial officers under the International Association of Women Judges – Uganda Chapter (IAWJ-UC), at Lake Victoria Granada Hotel, Entebbe.

Organized by the Judiciary of Uganda with support from UN Women, the Australian Development Cooperation, and the Gender Justice Platform, the training is being conducted under the theme: “Strengthening Judicial Capacity to Advance Gender-Responsive Adjudication in Uganda.”

The training primarily targets members of IAWJ-UC, from whom trainers will be selected to facilitate subsequent training clusters planned across the country. It seeks to refresh the skills of existing Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) while equipping newly appointed judicial officers with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance gender-responsive adjudication.

It aims to establish a sustainable and institutionalized pathway for the delivery of gender-responsive justice throughout Uganda's Judiciary.

Speaking during the Opening Ceremony, the Deputy Chief Justice Designate commended the IAWJ-UC and its partners for their commitment to building the capacity of judicial officers to deliver justice that is equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the realities faced by court users.

He emphasized that the Judiciary's legitimacy is rooted not only in the law but also in public trust, noting that those who appear before courts must be heard, treated with dignity, and protected equally.

He observed that while judicial officers are required to determine disputes impartially and according to the law, true impartiality demands an understanding of the circumstances and lived experiences of those who come before the courts. He welcomed the participation of judicial officers from different levels of the court system, including Justices, Judges, Registrars, and Magistrates, describing access to justice as a shared institutional responsibility. 

“Gender Responsive Adjudication isn't about creating special rights but about ensuring decision-making considers and addresses social, economic, cultural, and structural barriers that hinder access to justice and full participation,” he said.

Justice Kazibwe stressed that the principles of gender-responsive adjudication must extend beyond training manuals and workshops into courtroom practice, judicial decisions, case management, and interactions with court users.

He praised efforts to strengthen the pool of Trainers of Trainers, saying the initiative would help institutionalize gender-responsive justice throughout the Judiciary.

He pointed to persistent societal challenges that continue to affect access to justice, including gender-based violence, sexual offences, domestic abuse, widow inheritance, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, cyber harassment, and land conflicts involving widows.

Referring to the 2024 HiiL Report on Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Uganda, he noted that survivors of gender-based violence often face social, economic, and institutional barriers, while technology-facilitated violence such as cyber harassment and digital blackmail presents new challenges in the pursuit of justice.

“These issues clearly demonstrate that Gender-Responsive Adjudication is an essential response to the persistent challenges faced by women, children, and vulnerable populations,” he said.

Justice Kazibwe also applauded the contribution of the “Justice for Her” project, implemented through the partnership between UN Women Uganda, IAWJ, and the Judiciary. He said the initiative has helped courts better understand and respond to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence by promoting survivor-centred justice, improving case prioritization, strengthening judicial training, and leveraging technology to address systemic barriers.

He noted that judicial officers increasingly operate in environments shaped by unequal social relations, economic vulnerability, digital innovation, and emerging forms of harm, making it imperative for the Judiciary to remain responsive while safeguarding impartiality, due process, and judicial independence.

“Public confidence in the judiciary depends not only on the correctness of our rulings but also on our ability to understand and address the realities underlying the disputes before us,” he said.

He encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and reflect on how its lessons could improve the quality of justice delivered across the country.

“The true measure of this training will not be the number of participants in attendance, but the impact it has on the decisions we make and the lives we touch through our work,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Women Country Representative, Dr. Benson Okech (Operations Manager for UN Women in Uganda), commended IAWJ-UC and the Gender Justice Platform for their continued efforts in advancing gender-responsive adjudication and strengthening judicial practice. Highlighting the importance of fairness in the administration of justice, he noted that, “Gender-responsive adjudication is fundamentally about fairness. It is not about favouring one party over another; it is about ensuring substantive justice.”

Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya (President IAWJ-UC), expressed appreciation to UN Women for financing the training, noting that earlier training had been limited to a select number of judicial officers due to funding constraints. She also acknowledged the contribution of the Association’s past leadership, the organizing team, facilitators, trainees, and the Deputy Chief Justice for supporting the training and enabling judicial officers to attend at short notice.

She encouraged participants to engage with the training material with open minds despite its familiarity, emphasizing the need for judicial officers to remain attentive and responsive to the experiences of women and other vulnerable persons who come before the courts. She also underscored the importance of maintaining a fresh outlook in the administration of justice and advancing gender-responsive adjudication.

For Day One, participants will be taken through a range of topics including Foundations of Gender-Responsive Adjudication. This session will cover key areas such as gender concepts, norms and stereotypes, the four principles of gender-responsive adjudication, judicial impartiality, and gender bias.

Participants will also explore Gender-Responsive Adjudication in Criminal Proceedings, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual offences, child-friendly justice and voir dire, as well as gender-responsive sentencing.

In addition, participants will receive training on Facilitation Skills for Trainers, including adult learning methodologies, managing difficult discussions, and the effective use of case studies and practical exercises.

The training is being moderated by HW Zulaika Nanteza (Deputy Registrar Appellate Mediation at the Court of Appeal).