JUDICIARY Latest Features

Dr. Flavian Zeija (on the right), officially handed over the Office of Principal Judge to Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Justice and outgoing Principal Judge, Dr. Flavian Zeija, officially handed over the Office of Principal Judge to Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala.

The handover ceremony was witnessed by Heads of Divisions, the Executive Director Judicial Training Institute, members of Senior Management and Heads of Department, among others.

In his remarks, Dr. Zeija congratulated Lady Justice Kajuga on her appointment as Acting Principal Judge. He hailed her integrity, professionalism, and hard work. 

"The Chief Justice has in no doubt assigned a very qualifying person to take on the responsibility of the Chambers of the Principal Judge pending a substantial appointment. As Deputy Chief Justice and as person experienced with how the office is run, I will give you all the necessary support to enable you succeed in the role," he said.

Justice Dr. Zeija also outlined some of the duties of the Principal Judge, such as inspecting courts, which is a requirement under Article 141 of the Constitution. He stressed that visiting courts around the country helps identify challenges faced by judicial officers, especially in remote areas.

He also mentioned his role as Chair of the Judiciary Law Reform Committee and noted that he left a number of proposals, which he indicated in the handover report, pending conclusion by the law reform process and awaiting further action. 

He shared that during his time in office, he revamped the Chambers of the Principal Judge beyond administration to include hearing cases. "A Principal Judge should be an example to the rest of the Judges by handling case files," he said, encouraging Lady Justice Kajuga to continue this practice.

The outgoing Principal Judge also emphasized the importance of High Court Quarterly Performance Review Meetings, describing them as a "game changer" in improving performance and cleaning up court data.

He highlighted that the office receives a large number of complaints from court users and noted the importance of giving timely feedback to the public by addressing them. He further encouraged the Principal Judge to attend quarterly court open days to understand court users' experiences firsthand and to actively participate in Judiciary committees, noting that the Principal Judge’s input is crucial in many of them.

The Deputy Chief Justice concluded by noting some of the challenges the office faces, including the limited number of judges. However, he acknowledged that progress has been made, including an increase in judicial officers and better allocation of resources, especially for criminal sessions, to ensure every court holds at least one criminal session per quarter.

In her remarks, Lady Justice Kajuga expressed deep gratitude and humility upon assuming the role. She thanked the Judiciary’s top management for the trust placed in her. 

She acknowledged that effective judicial leadership is built on collaborative effort, dedication, and continuous learning. "As I receive this instrument of office this afternoon, I'm mindful of two critical things. One is that leadership and learning are indispensable. And secondly, that it is the sum total of small efforts that we repeat over time, a continuous process of improvement and progress that leads to success. But overall the success of the judiciary is not a one-man affair, it is a collective effort. It is the sum total of small steps taken daily by each and every one of us who are called to serve," she said.

Lady Justice Kajuga pledged her commitment to service with humility, integrity, timely service delivery, quality output, and an open-door policy. She promised to lean on Dr. Zeija's experience and guidance during her tenure. She also appreciated the support pledged by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, and reaffirmed her openness to cooperation.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, highlighted the supportive nature of his role, noting that his responsibilities revolve around ensuring the Judiciary has the necessary financial and logistical support, facilitating smooth operations, and upholding timely accountability.

He commended Justice Dr. Zeija for his guidance in various areas such as the preparation of the budget framework paper, prioritization, and work plan development. He commended him for his fast in taking decisions, even in the face of challenges. 

He also commended Justice Dr. Zeija's insistence on not only the quality of judgments but also on the numbers stating that "if you don't take action quickly in handling a case, you are denying the people of Uganda service, because justice delayed is justice denied."

Welcoming Lady Justice Jane Kajuga, he pledged the same unwavering support previously extended to her predecessor.

In her remarks, the Acting Chief Registrar, HW Lamunu Pamella Ocaya, congratulated Justice Dr. Zeija, and expressed gratitude for the great work and contributions during his tenure as the Principal Judge.

She noted that, under his leadership as Principal Judge, among his many achievements, he tirelessly traversed the country inspecting courts not only to identify gaps that needed to be filled but also to ensure that, as the Judiciary, they were giving their best in the administration of justice. She noted that he is hands-on and readily available to offer advice and guidance.

HW Lamunu also welcomed and congratulated Lady Justice Kajuga on her assignment, noting that as Acting Principal Judge is "a testament of her dedication to the law, service, and accomplishments in the legal profession." She pledged her unwavering support.

The event was moderated by HW Ereemye Jumire James Mawanda, the Judiciary Public Relations Officer.