Earlier today, the Chairperson of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) Governing Council and Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Mike Chibita, virtually closed the 40-hour Intensive Executive Mediation Training organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in collaboration with the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Registry and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
The five-day training, held at Mount Elgon Hotel and Spa in Mbale, brought together mediators from Eastern Uganda and was designed to strengthen advanced mediation competencies and equip participants with practical skills for effectively managing and resolving disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
In his closing remarks, Justice Chibita noted that the JTI Governing Council has the responsibility of ensuring that the Institute’s standards, curricula and accreditation processes maintain the credibility and quality of its training programmes.
He expressed satisfaction with the Institute’s investment in the programme, describing it as a sound investment in strengthening the Judiciary’s capacity to promote mediation and expand access to effective dispute resolution.
Justice Chibita placed the training within the broader constitutional mandate of the Judiciary, recalling that judicial power belongs to the people and must be exercised in accordance with the values, norms and aspirations of Ugandan society.
He further highlighted the constitutional requirement for courts to promote reconciliation between parties, noting that this mandate provides a fundamental basis for the mediation principles and skills imparted during the training.
Justice Chibita emphasised that while courts determine disputes through adjudication, mediation provides an avenue through which parties can reach mutually acceptable resolutions and restore lasting relationships. He noted that mediation is particularly important where the objective extends beyond determining who is right or wrong to achieving lasting peace between disputing parties.
He described the training as a direct expression of the Chief Justice’s mediation rules and commended the participants as pioneers of the advanced intensive level of mediation training.
He challenged the participants to take the knowledge and skills acquired back to their respective stations, registries, chambers and communities and to set a high standard for future cohorts undertaking the programme.
Justice Chibita emphasised that the true measure of the training would not be the certificates received at the end of the programme, but the lasting peace and resolution that participants would help restore among disputing parties in the years ahead.
He also recognised and commended the faculty for their contribution to the programme, noting their role in equipping participants with the knowledge, skills and practical competencies required for effective mediation.
The Chairperson further underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of JTI’s certification and accreditation processes. He clarified that certification is not automatic and that certificates are issued only to participants who are duly assessed and confirmed to have met the expectations and requirements of the programme.
He explained that the assessment process safeguards the value of JTI accreditation and contributes to public confidence in court-accredited mediators.
Justice Chibita also urged judicial officers to ensure that every court-accredited mediator deployed at their respective stations is registered on the Judiciary’s electronic case management systems.
He noted that proper registration enables the ADR Registry to track mediator performance, identify areas requiring intervention and strengthen institutional accountability for resources entrusted to the Judiciary.
He thanked the JTI team, ADR Registry team, IDLO and the secretariat for their contribution to the successful delivery of the programme and congratulated the participants of the second cohort upon completing the intensive training.
The five-day programme concluded with participants receiving certificates of completion, marking another milestone in the Judiciary’s efforts to strengthen mediation capacity and promote efficient, accessible and sustainable dispute resolution.
Posted 18th, September 2026
