JUDICIARY Latest Features

The Chief Justice, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has unveiled an ambitious vision for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in Nakasongola District, describing it as a future centre of excellence that will transform judicial education, strengthen institutional capacity and position Uganda’s Judiciary among the leading judicial institutions in the region.

The Chief Justice shared the vision during a site visit to the 17-acre piece of land earmarked for the Institute. He also met officials from the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the Judicial Training Institute, Judiciary leadership and Nakasongola District Local Government ahead of the commencement of construction works.

The visit was intended to provide NEC, which is expected to undertake the construction of the facility, with a clear understanding of the Judiciary’s expectations and the scope of infrastructure to be incorporated into the master plan.

Welcoming participants, the Chief Justice described the site as the future home of Uganda’s premier judicial academy. “I welcome you all to this historic piece of land here in Nakasongola. We are gathered on the very foundation of what will soon become the intellectual and professional powerhouse of Uganda’s third arm of Government.”

Justice Zeija said the institute should go beyond conventional training facilities to become a fully-fledged residential judicial academy equipped with a modern auditorium, multiple breakout rooms, a model court for practical judicial training, a health centre, gymnasium, swimming pool, residential accommodation and other world-class amenities capable of supporting continuous professional development for judicial officers.

He noted that judiciaries across the world have recognised continuous judicial education as a cornerstone of judicial excellence and have invested heavily in specialised academies to equip judicial officers with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to respond to the evolving demands of justice administration. “Uganda cannot and will not be left behind,” he said.

The Chief Justice explained that the idea of establishing a permanent Judicial Training Institute was conceived during his tenure as Principal Judge, following a benchmarking visit to Kenya and Tanzania undertaken together with the then Chief Justice Emeritus to study established judicial training institutions in the region.

He said the delegation was particularly inspired by Kenya’s Judicial Training Institute and Tanzania’s Judicial Academy in Lushoto, which sits on more than 50 acres and operates as a residential judicial academy with a permanent faculty and a robust legal framework.

“Driven by what I saw in Tanzania, I came straight to Nakasongola upon my return and engaged the district leadership on the idea of establishing a world-class judicial training institute here,” Justice Zeija recalled.

He expressed appreciation to the Nakasongola District Local Government for donating the 17-acre site but appealed for additional land to enable the Judiciary to develop an institution comparable to leading judicial academies in the region.

The Chief Justice observed that the project would extend benefits far beyond the Judiciary by creating employment opportunities, stimulating business activity and contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Nakasongola District.“The institute will not only serve the Judiciary. It will be a historic infrastructure project that will create jobs, stimulate economic activity and drive development in Nakasongola District and beyond.”

Strong Legal and Institutional Foundation

Justice Zeija noted that the Judiciary has already laid a firm legal foundation for the project through the gazettement of the Judicial Training Regulations, 2025, following the enactment of the Administration of the Judiciary Act, and the establishment of the Judicial Training Institute Governing Council to oversee the institution’s operations.

He commended the Government and the Commander-in-Chief, H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for professionalising the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and expressed confidence that the partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation and the UPDF Engineering Brigade would guarantee the successful implementation of the project.

“I have seen the remarkable work being undertaken by the UPDF Engineering Brigade across the country, and I am confident they have the discipline, professionalism and technical capacity to deliver this important project.”

The Chief Justice also appealed to justice sector institutions and development partners to support the establishment of the institute, noting that technical, financial and institutional partnerships would be instrumental in transforming the facility into a regional centre for legal excellence.

Judiciary Leaders Endorse the Initiative

Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi commended the Chief Justice for championing the project, describing it as a strategic long-term investment whose benefits would extend beyond the Judiciary.

“My Lord the Chief Justice, thank you for planting this seed. I know it will come to pass. Resources will be found to make this vision a reality because its benefits will extend beyond the Judiciary to other institutions of Government.”

The Chairperson of the Judicial Training Institute Governing Council, Justice Mike Chibita, thanked the Nakasongola District leadership for donating the land and said lessons from Tanzania’s Judicial Academy would inform development of the institute’s master plan.

He expressed confidence that the partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation would deliver a modern institution capable of serving not only judicial officers but also the wider justice sector.

“Under your leadership, My Lord the Chief Justice, this place will one day grow into a landmark institution and a major hub for Nakasongola District.”

A Dream Becoming Reality

The Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, Justice Prof Andrew Khaukha, reflected on the origins of the project, recalling that the vision began several years ago when Justice Zeija proposed the benchmarking visit to Kenya and Tanzania.

“At the time, none of us imagined that you would become Chief Justice, but you were already laying the foundation for this vision. Today I congratulate you because that dream is becoming a reality.”

District Pledges Continued Support

The Resident District Commissioner for Nakasongola, Mr Festus Bandeeba Apuuli, welcomed the Judiciary to the district and pledged the district’s continued support towards the successful implementation of the project.

He observed that, beyond strengthening judicial education, the institute would generate significant economic opportunities for local communities by stimulating business, expanding markets and creating employment.

Arrival and Site Briefing

Upon arrival, the Chief Justice was received by Justice Godfrey Himbaza, Head of the Luwero High Court Circuit; Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa, a member of the Judicial Training Institute Governing Council representing High Court Judges; Maj Gen Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi, General Manager of Luwero Industries, a subsidiary of the National Enterprise Corporation; judicial officers from the Luwero High Court Circuit; representatives of the Judicial Training Institute and the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Registry; members of Judiciary Senior Management; and officials from the district security committee.

The meeting was moderated by the Ag Registrar JTI, HW Lillian Bucyana, who described the site visit as a major milestone in the Judiciary’s journey towards establishing a permanent home for judicial education and continuous professional development.

She noted that the proposed institute reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to building institutional capacity and equipping judicial officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively to the evolving demands of justice administration.

Once completed, the Judicial Training Institute is expected to become the Judiciary’s principal centre for professional training, research and innovation.