Chief Justice Calls for Increased Funding to Tackle Case Backlog, Enhance Access to Justice
The Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, has called on justice sector institutions and development partners to strengthen collaboration in addressing persistent challenges affecting the administration of justice, saying an efficient justice system depends on coordinated action across the entire justice chain.
Justice Zeija made the remarks earlier today while presiding over his first Administration of Justice (AoJ) Programme Leadership Committee meeting since assuming office. The meeting, held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala, brought together leaders of justice sector institutions, development partners, diplomatic missions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to review the Programme’s performance, discuss priorities for the new financial year, and chart the way forward.
In his keynote address, the Chief Justice paid tribute to his predecessor, Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, for securing the Administration of Justice Programme as an independent programme under the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII), a milestone that accorded justice institutions greater policy visibility and dedicated attention.
He also commended the National Planning Authority and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for strengthening the clustering of justice institutions under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV), saying the revised framework had improved coordination, accountability and service delivery.
Justice Zeija underscored the interconnected nature of justice institutions, noting that the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service function as one justice chain.
“The justice sector operates as an end-to-end chain, comprising the Judiciary, ODPP, Police and Prisons Service, where inefficiencies by one actor compromise the entire system,” he observed.
The Chief Justice highlighted the Administration of Justice Programme’s achievements, noting that it had been recognised as the second best-performing Central Government Programme at the National Performance Review Conference 2026.
He said the Programme had registered notable improvements in reducing case backlog, with the national backlog declining from 27.36 per cent in FY 2023/24 to 24.74 per cent in FY 2024/25.
Justice Zeija also highlighted the growing impact of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), revealing that more than 7,765 disputes had been resolved through mediation across the Judiciary, Industrial Court and Tax Appeals Tribunal. Additionally, the Small Claims Procedure disposed of 27,181 claims, unlocking approximately UGX 20.4 billion into the economy.
On access to justice, he noted that the Law Development Centre, Legal Aid Clinic and Justice Centres Uganda continued providing legal representation to vulnerable persons, while State Brief representation for indigent capital offenders had been expanded across High Court Circuits and Chief Magistrates Courts.
He further observed that prison and remand management had improved, with the remand population reducing from 47.3 per cent in FY 2024/25 to 45.9 per cent in FY 2025/26, partly due to increased utilisation of plea bargaining.
The Chief Justice also highlighted progress in juvenile justice, saying 3,887 juveniles had been presented before courts during FY 2025/26, with 1,772 reunited with their families, while more than 1,700 children were diverted from the formal justice system through community-based interventions.
He noted that technology continued transforming justice delivery, with the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) now operational in 50 court stations, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court Divisions and several High Court Circuits. In addition, video conferencing facilities had been installed in 20 courts and prisons to facilitate remote hearings and witness testimony.
While commending justice sector institutions for these achievements, Justice Zeija cautioned that significant challenges remained.
He identified corruption, fragmented development partner support, staffing shortages, low uptake of mediation, incomplete digital integration, prison congestion, delays in enacting key legislation, limited capacity of Local Council Courts, and constraints affecting the Law Development Centre as major issues requiring urgent attention.
He noted that Uganda’s prison population currently stands at 81,874 inmates, against a holding capacity of only 23,437, underscoring the need for sustained reforms to reduce congestion.
The Chief Justice also raised concern over staffing levels across the Administration of Justice Programme, revealing that institutions are operating at only 42 per cent staffing capacity.“Without adequate human resources, our institutions cannot meet the rising demand for justice services,” he emphasised, calling for the recruitment of more judges, judicial officers, State Attorneys, CID detectives and other justice sector personnel.
Looking ahead, Justice Zeija outlined the Programme’s strategic priorities, including expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution, improving staffing levels, integrating digital justice systems, strengthening anti-corruption measures, investing in justice infrastructure and fast-tracking pending legislation.
He reaffirmed that mediation, plea bargaining and other ADR mechanisms would remain central to reducing case backlog, lowering litigation costs and easing pressure on correctional facilities.“NDPIII gave us an opportunity to learn. Under the NDPIV, we have an opportunity to consolidate lessons and address remaining challenges to shape a justice system that truly serves all Ugandans,” he said.
During the meeting, the Chief Justice officially launched the Administration of Justice Programme Strategy (FY 2025/26–FY 2029/30), which outlines the Programme’s strategic goals, priorities, financing framework, results matrix and implementation plan.
He also launched the Administration of Justice Programme Project, developed under NDPIV to mobilise resources for high-impact interventions aimed at strengthening justice service delivery over the next five years.
Justice Zeija called upon the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and development partners to support the project, noting that it would guide resource mobilisation and ensure better alignment of partner interventions with national priorities.
The Chief Justice also unveiled the Administration of Justice Programme logo, marking another milestone in strengthening the Programme’s institutional identity.
The meeting also featured presentations and discussions on the Administration of Justice Programme priorities for FY 2026/27, strategies to reduce prison congestion, strengthening Local Council Courts to improve grassroots dispute resolution, and enhancing juvenile justice.
Posted 31st, July 2026
