Sitting (L-R): Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, Sir Geoffrey Vos; Standing (L -R): Mr. Omid Reza Nazari, Justice Andrew Khaukha
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, hosted Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of Rolls and President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, at the Court of Appeal in Kampala.
Sir Vos was accompanied by Mr. Omid Reza Nazari, International Strategy Manager at the Secretariat of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC).
Also in attendance were Justice Andrew Khaukha (Executive Director Judicial Training Institute)and HW Julius Mwesigye (Personal Assistant to the DCJ).
The visit provided a valuable platform for discussions on comparative judicial practices between Uganda and the United Kingdom, with particular attention to the operations of the Court of Appeal in both jurisdictions.
During the engagement, Justice Dr. Zeija briefed Sir Vos on the jurisdiction and mandate of Uganda's Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court, outlining the types of cases it handles ,the structure and duration of court sessions, and his approach to case management.
He further highlighted the Judiciary's modernization initiatives, including the rollout of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), which is facilitating the Court of Appeal's shift towards paperless operations. He also emphasized the use of real-time transcription tools as part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and reduce case backlog.
Justice Dr. Zeija provided insight into the specialized handling of cases by the different Divisions of the High Court, particularly the Commercial Division, and addressed whether Judicial Officers can serve across multiple Divisions(Specialization of Judges).
He discussed Judiciary's practices aimed at improving performance such as quarterly performance review meetings for High Court Judges, chaired by the DCJ as Chairperson Case Backlog Committee, which are used to assess performance, share best practices, plan for future quarters, and identify resource needs. He also highlighted the importance of inspections to identify the unique challenges faced by the various courts.
Regarding judicial appointments, the DCJ explained the role of the Judicial Service Commission, detailing the selection process, timelines, and criteria for appointing judicial officers, particularly judges.
In his remarks, Sir Geoffrey Vos stressed the importance of transparent appointment processes for Judicial Officers in upholding the integrity of Judiciaries. He discussed the importance of court inspections in helping Judiciaries understand challenges at the grassroots level.
Sir Vos also spoke about the Africa Chief Justices' ADR Forum, commending its role in promoting collaboration and advancing judicial development across the continent.
"There is a lot to be exchanged between African jurisdictions. This Forum is very critical for the development of Judiciaries in Africa," Sir Vos remarked.
The visit concluded with a brief tour of the Court of Appeal premises, including a visit to one of the courtrooms and the Court’s health club.
Posted 26th, May 2025
