The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has called for stronger regional collaboration and sustained public awareness to deepen the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as an effective mechanism for improving access to justice.
Lady Justice Abodo made the remarks earlier today while receiving a delegation from Karl Mediation Centre, Nairobi, which paid a courtesy call on her to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building in ADR.
The delegation was led by the Centre’s Director, Mr Caleb Kusienya.
Welcoming the delegation, the Principal Judge said the engagement had come at an important time when the Judiciary is expanding the use of ADR and strengthening court-annexed mediation.
She emphasised that the value of ADR goes beyond disposing of cases and reducing case backlog, noting that it provides parties with additional avenues for resolving disputes in a timely and responsive manner.
“ADR is not simply about reducing case backlog on our dockets,” Lady Justice Abodo said. “It fundamentally enhances access to justice and ensures that the justice system remains responsive to the needs of the public.”
The Principal Judge underscored the need for sustained public sensitisation to strengthen understanding of and confidence in court-annexed mediation. She also welcomed regional partnerships through which institutions can share experiences, learn from emerging practices and strengthen professional capacity.
The Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), Justice Prof Andrew Khaukha, highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of mediation within the Judiciary.
He commended the Chief Justice, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, for his leadership in promoting ADR and supporting the accreditation of court mediators.
Justice Khaukha said the Judiciary is introducing performance-based standards to guide the renewal of mediator credentials, with accredited mediators receiving remuneration linked to the successful disposal of matters.
He stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement at the different stages of the mediation process, including setting goals, reviewing progress and conducting exit assessments.
Justice Khaukha also highlighted the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy, 2025, which provides a national framework for the development and application of ADR in Uganda.
The Head of the Commercial Division of the High Court, Lady Justice Anne Mugenyi Bitature, shared some of the approaches being employed by the Division to strengthen mediation and improve case management.
She highlighted the categorisation of cases into specialised clusters, including banking, trade and corporations, intellectual property and a universal cluster. The approach allows mediation interventions to be organised around the nature of disputes before the Court.
Justice Mugenyi also highlighted the concurrent opening of mediation files alongside civil suits, daily hearings and the use of virtual proceedings among measures aimed at improving efficiency.
She further pointed to mediation weeks and fortnights as targeted interventions through which the Division periodically focuses attention on resolving commercial disputes through mediation.
The Head of the Family Division, Justice John Eudes Keiterima, shared the Division’s experience in integrating mediation into family justice.
He noted that family matters are referred to mediation at filing as part of efforts to encourage early settlement and provide a more conciliatory approach to disputes that often involve continuing family relationships.
Justice Keiterima said a dedicated committee at the Division monitors the progress and output of mediators on a weekly basis.
He also highlighted mentorship as an important component of building mediation capacity, with developing mediators afforded opportunities to observe sessions conducted by more experienced practitioners.
In response, Mr Kusienya commended the Judiciary for the approaches being adopted to institutionalise mediation, particularly the use of mediation weeks and fortnights as well as specialised case clustering.
He said Kenya was similarly moving towards mandatory pre-trial mediation as part of efforts to achieve faster and more user-centred dispute resolution.
“When parties come to court, they are not interested in procedural technicalities; they simply want justice,” Mr Kusienya said.
He explained that Karl Mediation Centre, established in 2019, focuses on private mediation and conciliation as well as specialised training in sports arbitration.
The discussions also explored the respective roles of courts, registries, mediators and ADR institutions in institutional mediation, including the referral of cases to mediation and effective case management.
Particular attention was given to how mediation can be integrated into court processes while maintaining appropriate Judiciary oversight.
The meeting further considered quality assurance, accreditation and professional standards for mediators, as well as mechanisms for the enforcement and implementation of mediated settlements.
Posted 14th, August 2026
