Judiciary Commences Two-Day Capacity Building On Planning, Budgeting, And Performance Reporting
The Registry of Planning, Research and Development, in collaboration with the Policy and Planning Department, has commenced a two-day training workshop on planning, budgeting and performance reporting at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala.
The annual training targets Judicial Officers, Heads of Departments and Registrars across the Judiciary and seeks to address persistent gaps in administrative capacity, particularly in work plan costing, aligning court budgets with the Judiciary Strategic Plan, and delivering consistent performance reports.
While opening the session, the Chief Registrar, HW Agnes Alum, highlighted that the workshop coincides with the release of the First Budget Call Circular for the Financial Year 2027/2028 by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
She urged participants to immediately apply the skills acquired during the training to prepare Budget Framework Papers (BFPs) and preliminary estimates that accurately reflect the priorities of their respective courts and registries.
The Chief Registrar further emphasised the need to strengthen accountability standards amid heightened scrutiny from parliamentary oversight bodies, including the Public Accounts Committee and the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
She noted that previous failures to meet activity targets or adhere strictly to approved work plans have led oversight bodies to demand refunds of unspent allocations, complete accountability and clear demonstration of value for money.
Speaking on the initiative, HW John Paul Edoku, Registrar of Research, Planning and Development, emphasised that planning must begin at the level of individual court stations, whose officers possess crucial on-the-ground knowledge of the specific operational needs of their respective courts and registries.
He noted that the current participants are primarily Chief Magistrates serving in upcountry stations, adding that the training programme will be scaled up to include a wider range of administrative leadership.
He said the primary objective is to embed a participatory, bottom-up approach that integrates input from frontline staff into the overall Judiciary Work Plan and Budget.
Mr. Simon Peter Opolot, Commissioner for Policy and Planning in the Judiciary, is currently presenting on the budget cycle and structure.
He highlighted the need for staff to master planning, budgeting and resource allocation, urging participants to share candid views on how these skills can be effectively integrated into their daily routines.
The two-day training includes both theoretical and practical sessions aimed at equipping participants with the skills required to effectively plan, budget and report on performance. Participants will be taken through the preparation of work plans and budgets, case disposal target setting, as well as a practical exercise on the preparation of work plans and budgets.
By equipping officers with a clear understanding of these frameworks and practical skills, the Judiciary aims to enhance operational alignment, accountability and institutional efficiency across all court levels.
The training is being moderated by Mr. Julius Caesar Kagoro, Principal Policy Analyst in the Judiciary, who outlined the core expectations for participants during the session.
He emphasised the importance of understanding the planning cycle, including when it commences, as well as the mechanics of budget execution and the formulation of court and registry work plans.
Mr. Kagoro further urged participants to focus on setting measurable outputs, strengthening their budgeting skills and mastering activity costing techniques to enhance operational efficiency.
Posted 6th, October 2026
