The Principal Judge, Justice Flavin Zeija, March 18, 2025 presided over Arua High Court 's Open Day where he emphasized the Judiciary's commitment to improve access to justice.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to bring judicial services closer to the people, including the establishment of more courts across the country to eliminate case backlog and expedite justice delivery.
This Financial Year, the Judiciary will begin with construction of regional circuits of the Court of Appeal, starting with Mbarara and Gulu.
The Principal Judge noted that High Court circuits have increased from 20 to 38, with plans to operationalize Moyo Circuit. Adding that each District will be assigned a Chief Magistrate and Magistrates Grade One in every constituency to enhance service delivery.
Justice Dr. Zeija also highlighted the implementation of the Electronic Court Case Management and Information System (ECCMIS), initially rolled out in selected pilot courts. This System, he said, eliminates the need for parties to travel to Kampala for case hearings. He assured participants that ECCMIS will be expanded to more circuits this year, including Arua.
To enhance justice delivery, he encouraged Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), particularly in land matters, by involving religious and clan leaders in Mediation. "We urge you to resolve disputes through ADR to promote harmony within communities," he said.
Additionally, he shared plans to introduce mobile courts to serve remote areas, ensuring that justice is accessible even in the most underserved regions.
Justice Dr. Zeija urged judicial officers to avoid corruption, expedite case hearings within 60 days, and maintain good customer care practices. "I'm glad to receive only good feedback from the people here today about the judicial officers in this circuit. This shows their dedication to delivering justice fairly and efficiently," he said.
He encouraged judicial officers to continue upholding integrity and professionalism, emphasizing that public trust in the Judiciary is essential for effective justice delivery.
The Resident Judge of Arua Circuit, Lady Justice Harriet Grace Magala, congratulated the Principal Judge and the Ag. Chief Registrar, HW Pamela Lamunu, on their promotions, stating, "Their dedication and leadership have been instrumental in strengthening our Judiciary."
She also expressed appreciation for constructive criticism from the public, emphasizing its importance in judicial improvement. "Engagements like these allow us to identify gaps and refine our processes to better serve the people," she said.
Justice Magala also commended the strong working relationship with the Office of the Director of PublicProsecutions (ODPP), emphasizing the importance of collaboration in expediting case resolutions.
She provided an update on pending cases as at March 17 (yesterday): Criminal matters - 596 cases, with 74 in backlog, Civil matters - 607 cases, with 298 in backlog, Family matters - 111cases, with 6 in backlog and Land matters - 647 cases, with 323 in backlog.
She noted that case delays are often due to the high number of witnesses presented by lawyers, but efforts are underway to streamline trials by reducing unnecessary witnesses.
Additionally, Lady Justice Magala highlighted a challenge in land cases, where much of the land is customary and knowledge of ownership boundaries is often lost with the passing of elderly community members. She urged the public to embrace ADR as a quicker way to resolve land disputes.
The Judge stressed the need for prioritizing backlogged cases, holding regular stakeholder meetings, and operationalizing High Court circuits in Moyo and Nebbi, funds permitting.
Ag. Chief Registrar HW Pamella Lamunu Ocaya noted that this was her first Court Open Day as Ag Chief Registrar and expressed her commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance the Judiciary's mission.
She thanked the Principal Judge for demonstrating Top Management's commitment to quality service delivery and acknowledged stakeholders' role in ensuring justice is served effectively.
She emphasized that the Judiciary derives its mandate from the people and encouraged public feedback to help improve judicial services. "We urge the public to take advantage of judicial innovations such as Mediation and Small Claims Procedure to resolve disputes faster," she added.
Regarding judicial misconduct, she acknowledged complaints about abuse of power and corruption, assuring participants that Top management is committed to restoring the Judiciary's integrity.
She also urged law enforcement to be more proactive in handling narcotics-related offenses, as the public in Arua is dissatisfied with the current response to drug-related crimes.
Additionally, she commended students from Mvara Secondary School for attending, encouraging them to pursue legal careers and contribute to justice in the country. "It is inspiring to see young people interested in the justice system. We encourage you to consider careers in the legal field and help shape the future of our Judiciary," she said.
HW Rania Naluyima, Assistant Registrar Arua High Court, thanked the Principal Judge for gracing the occasion and expressed the Judiciary’s commitment to ongoing engagement with the public.
She also introduced Judicial Officers and staff within the Circuit as a way of promoting transparency.
Mr. Henry Odama, representing the Arua City Clerk, welcomed the Principal Judge and emphasized Arua’s high crime rate, thanking the courts for their continued cooperation with local authorities.
He said the City Council has allocated three acres of land for the construction of the Court of Appeal. "This land allocation is a significant step toward expanding judicial services. We look forward to seeing the Court of Appeal established here," he noted.
Ms. Ritah Kirungi, Principal State Attorney, reaffirmed the ODPP's collaboration with the Judiciary to expedite case disposal and ensure fair trials. "A strong and efficient Judiciary strengthens our work in the ODPP. We remain committed to ensuring justice for all," she said.
Mr. Richard Muhereza, the Regional Officer ODPP applauded the Judiciary's performance and reaffirmed his office's commitment to reducing case backlog and ensuring justice for all victims. "The Judiciary plays a crucial role in ensuring justice is served. We will continue working together to improve case resolution timelines," he said.
Mr. Tao Omali, Assistant Superintendent of Police, highlighted the strong partnership between law enforcement, the Judiciary, and other stakeholders in ensuring justice.
Ms. Jane Ajio, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, appreciated the event and shared statistics on Arua's prisons: Arua Women's Prison - 96 inmates, 8 babies, Arua Men's Prison -1,206 inmates and Gili Gili Prison - 126 inmates.
She noted the challenge of prison congestion and called for continued expansion of the Plea Bargaining program."The Plea Bargaining programme has greatly helped in reducing congestion. We urge for its continued expansion," she said.
She thanked Judicial Officers for hearing cases promptly and sensitizing inmates on legal matters.
Mr. Brian Malengo, LC II, appreciated the public's involvement in the event, "Engagements like this bridge the gap between the Judiciary and the people, ensuring that justice is not only served but also understood," he said.
The event also featured a Q&A session, where members of the public raised concerns, asked questions, and provided feedback on judicial services. Judicial officers and stakeholders responded, addressing issues and reaffirming their commitment to improving service delivery.
The event was moderated by Mr. Deo Akugizibwe, Communications Officer, Judiciary.
Posted 18th, March 2025
