The Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, calls for faster, accessible and corruption-free justice, urging court users in Iganga, Mayuge, Kaliro and Luuka to trust the courts, reject mob justice, report corruption and embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Justice Dr. Zeija made the call yesterday while presiding over the Iganga High Court Open Day at the Court grounds in Iganga District, held under the theme, “Justice that Listens, Serves and Resolves.”
The Open Day brought together Judicial Officers and justice sector stakeholders, including representatives from the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Attorney General’s Chambers, Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Uganda Law Society, legal aid service providers, district and religious leaders, and members of the public.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Justice said the Judiciary belongs to the people and must provide justice that listens to their concerns, serves them fairly and resolves disputes without unnecessary delay.
“The Constitution says that all power belongs to the people, so is judicial power. Therefore, this Court Open Day is not for the Chief Justice, it is also not for the Judges and Magistrates deployed here. This Court Open Day is for you, the people,” he said.
He noted that communities in Iganga, Mayuge, Kaliro and Luuka face disputes ranging from land wrangles, cattle theft, loan defaults and family disagreements to commercial disputes and other crimes. Such disputes, he observed, become more costly when they remain unresolved for years, sometimes forcing families to sell property to meet legal expenses.
To address delays, Justice Dr. Zeija highlighted the Judiciary’s increased use of ADR mechanisms, including mediation, plea bargaining and the Small Claims Procedure, to resolve disputes more quickly and preserve relationships. He cited the resolution of disputes involving traditional leadership in Busoga and Mbale as examples of how mediation can help reduce the number of cases pending before courts.
He also outlined measures being undertaken to bring justice services closer to the people, including increasing the number of courts. He noted that Iganga is now a High Court Circuit, while Mayuge, Kaliro and Luuka have been designated as magisterial areas. Iganga and Mayuge already have Chief Magistrates, while the Judiciary plans to post Chief Magistrates to Kaliro and Luuka once adequate Judicial Officers are available.
The Chief Justice added that the planned operationalisation of the Bugiri High Court Circuit will further ease the caseload in the region once the Judiciary recruits the Judges required to run the Circuit.
He also highlighted the enhancement of the jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts, which he said will enable more cases to be handled at the local level and reduce the need for litigants to travel to the High Court.
On digitalisation, Justice Dr. Zeija explained that the Judiciary is implementing the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) and audiovisual technology to enable court users to file cases and participate in proceedings remotely. He added that service kiosks would be established at different Courts to assist users who may have difficulties navigating the digital platforms.
The Chief Justice further informed the public that the Judiciary is decentralising appellate services to bring the Court of Appeal closer to the people, beginning with Gulu and Mbarara, where construction is already underway, followed by Mbale, Jinja and other areas.
He also highlighted the introduction of mobile courts to reach communities in hard-to-access areas, including islands, where the cost and difficulty of travelling to court can hinder access to justice. He said the Judiciary had procured a boat, with another 30-seater boat expected in the coming months to facilitate Judicial Officers conducting mobile court sessions in island communities such as Buvuma.
On infrastructure and staffing, Justice Dr. Zeija outlined plans to recruit more Judicial Officers and other Judiciary staff, expand infrastructure and operationalise additional courts. He also committed to following up on the land title required for construction of the Iganga High Court building, as well as concerns regarding generators and computers for the Court.
Corruption and Court Brokers
Addressing concerns about corruption, the Chief Justice said corruption has no place in the Judiciary and urged the public to report any Judicial or non-Judicial staff who demand money to access or move court files or facilitate services to which court users are entitled.
“You should not pay a bribe to see your file or for it to be moved. You should not be told to come back next month without a justifiable reason. Service means respect, service means the fair and timely discharge of duties and obligations by all entrusted with judicial power,” he said.
On bribery involving litigants and Judicial Officers, he noted that while both parties have a role in the vice, Judicial Officers carry greater responsibility because of the trust attached to their positions. He encouraged members of the public to work with local leaders and other stakeholders to report suspected corruption so that formally reported complaints can be investigated and acted upon.
Court brokers were also raised as a concern. The Chief Justice urged the Court to work with the Police and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to identify people who loiter around court premises and solicit money from court users. He cautioned the public against paying people whose roles they do not understand and encouraged them to seek proper guidance from the Court.
Regarding complaints about money lenders, Justice Dr. Zeija called for a joint response involving the Judiciary and district leaders, particularly in cases where members of the public are allegedly deceived into signing agreements that are not genuine or are intended to disadvantage them.
Bail, Mob Justice and Public Responsibility
On bail, the Chief Justice explained that the grant or denial of bail is within the discretion of a Judicial Officer and urged Judicial Officers to remain conscious of crimes prevalent in their respective areas when handling bail matters.
He also called on the public to support the justice system by reporting crimes, appearing as witnesses and embracing mediation.
“We want solutions, not just judgments,” he emphasised.
Justice Dr. Zeija cautioned against mob justice, urging members of the public to report such incidents to the Police and allow the law to take its course. He encouraged witnesses to come forward and make use of witness protection mechanisms where necessary.
Drawing on traditional dispute-resolution practices in Busoga, he encouraged the public to embrace mediation rather than unnecessarily escalating disputes into lengthy court battles.
He also pledged to have the Inspectorate of Courts follow up on all complaints raised by members of the public during the Open Day so that appropriate action can be taken.
Iganga High Court Concerns
In his remarks, the Resident Judge of Iganga High Court, Justice David Batema, welcomed the Chief Justice and appealed for the construction of a dedicated High Court building, noting that the Court is currently operating from the Chief Magistrate’s Court premises.
He explained that although land had been allocated for the High Court, the Judiciary could not take possession because it does not have a land title for the property.
Justice Batema also appealed for a generator to address challenges arising from power interruptions and requested additional computers for the Court. He commended ADR, noting that it is changing lives, particularly through plea bargaining, which he said is contributing to the criminal justice system, and mediation, which is helping to resolve land disputes.
He further urged members of the public to respect established complaint-reporting protocols, noting that District Coordination Committees and Regional Coordination Committees are functional and can be used to channel their concerns.
Chief Registrar Assures Public of Follow-Up
Responding to concerns raised by members of the public, the Chief Registrar, HW Alum Agnes, assured the public that the Judiciary would follow up on the issues raised and provide feedback on the action taken.
She noted that some complaints relate to matters already before court and would therefore require follow-up through the appropriate channels.
On complaints concerning professional misconduct by lawyers, she undertook to refer the matters to the Uganda Law Council for appropriate action. She also urged members of the public to provide detailed and specific information when lodging complaints to enable the responsible institutions to properly investigate and address them.
Addressing concerns about the high crime rate, the Chief Registrar emphasised that addressing crime is a shared responsibility between the public and justice sector institutions. She urged complainants not to stop at reporting cases but to follow them up and appear as witnesses when required, noting that giving evidence is an important responsibility in ensuring that reported cases are properly concluded.
She further highlighted the importance of legal education and public awareness on the law, particularly in helping members of the public understand their rights and the appropriate procedures for pursuing complaints.
She clarified that civil matters do not ordinarily result in arrest and encouraged members of the public to seek information and clarification where they are uncertain about legal processes.
Concerns raised during the Open Day included land disputes, unlawful arrests in property-related matters, failure to execute court orders, lost court files and challenges involving money lenders in Namungagwe, including high interest rates.
RDC Pledges Support
The RDC Iganga, Mr. Eric Ssewandigi, commended the Judiciary for organising the Court Open Day, describing it as an important initiative that brings justice closer to the people.
He noted that a significant proportion of the concerns raised by the community relate to land, estimated at 70 per cent, alongside the high cost of accessing justice. He observed that the Open Day provides an opportunity to address such challenges.
He pledged his office’s support to the Judiciary in addressing challenges affecting the people of Iganga, including domestic violence, and called for consideration of strengthening Local Council Courts through training, particularly with new local leaders coming into office.
Mr. Ssewandigi further emphasised that the fight against corruption requires the involvement of all stakeholders. He urged Judicial Officers to work with district authorities and the public to address the problem of court brokers, noting that exposing such individuals would help protect court users and the reputation of the Judiciary.
He encouraged members of the public to allow institutions mandated to handle complaints and criminal matters to perform their roles, while pledging to work with the Judiciary to ensure that concerns raised by the community are addressed.
The event was moderated by HW James Ereemye Jumire Mawanda, Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer.
Posted 28th, September 2026
