UJOA Executive Meets Chief Justice, Seeks Better Pay, Welfare and Protection for Judicial Officers
The Chief Registrar, HW Agnes Alum, today hosted a team from Redeem International in her chambers at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala, to discuss opportunities for collaboration aimed at improving access to justice for vulnerable persons.
The courtesy call was intended to introduce Redeem International’s work in Uganda, share its experiences supporting vulnerable communities, and explore areas of partnership with the Judiciary.
The delegation comprised Mr. Paul Woniaye, Director of Programme Management, Mr. Timothy Lubuulwa, Community Engagement Consultant, and Ms. Rita Asiimwe, Legal Consultant. Also present was HW Koisa Kasibayo, Deputy Registrar in the Chief Registrar’s Chambers.
During the meeting, the Redeem International team briefed the Chief Registrar on the organisation’s work supporting widows, orphans and other vulnerable persons affected by succession-related property grabbing and land disputes. The Christian-founded non-governmental organisation explained that it provides legal representation to indigent clients in civil matters and works alongside state prosecutors in criminal proceedings to ensure victims obtain justice and that cases are handled expeditiously.
The delegation noted that since commencing operations in Uganda in 2020, Redeem International has worked closely with law enforcement agencies and other justice sector institutions to protect vulnerable people from unlawful evictions, land grabbing and property-related violence. They said many beneficiaries have successfully recovered their land, while the prosecution of offenders has helped deter similar offences.
The team, however, highlighted challenges in enforcing recently enacted criminal provisions relating to land and succession matters, observing that some cases involving alleged criminal offences are instead redirected to the civil justice system. They proposed closer collaboration with the Judiciary to strengthen understanding and application of the new legal framework and expressed interest in formalising the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding.
HW Agnes Alum welcomed Redeem International’s commitment to providing legal assistance to indigent and vulnerable members of society, describing the organisation’s work as an important contribution to improving access to justice.
“I am happy to know that there are people willing to stand with and support the indigent,” she said.
The Chief Registrar encouraged the organisation to pursue strategic litigation where appropriate, noting that appeals to the High Court could help establish precedents that would guide lower courts in the interpretation and application of the law.
She also welcomed the proposal for collaboration and underscored the importance of continuous judicial training on emerging areas of law, particularly land and civil matters. She observed that the Judiciary, through the Judicial Training Institute, has several capacity-building programmes planned for Judicial Officers, especially as Magistrates prepare to exercise their enhanced jurisdiction, and said these programmes would provide an opportunity for Redeem International to contribute technical expertise.
HW Agnes Alum further encouraged the organisation to remain steadfast in pursuing matters that merit judicial determination, noting that well-prepared and persuasive legal arguments enable courts to develop jurisprudence on emerging legal issues, particularly where criminal and civil aspects of land disputes intersect.
Posted 7th, July 2026
