Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija (seated middle) at the closing of the Central Region Cluster One Training on Case Management and Criminal Trial Procedure
The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, today officially closed the two-tier training for Judicial Officers from the Central Region Cluster One. The first session, held from 27thto 29th October 2025, focused on Case Management, Judgment Writing, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), while the second, conducted from 30th to31st October 2025, centered on Criminal Trial Procedure. Both sessions were held at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall, Level 7.
In his remarks, Justice Dr. Zeija emphasized that "the true measure of the impact of this training lies in translating the lessons learned into enhanced case disposal and effective use of ADR mechanisms."
He noted that the Judiciary's2024/25 Performance Report reflected a pending caseload of 197,903 cases, with24.2 percent constituting backlog. Citing Entebbe, Wakiso, and Mpigi High Court Circuits, where each have thousands of unresolved, mostly land-related cases, he urged judicial officers to adopt innovative case management approaches to improve performance.
He observed that for a long time, judicial officers have focused on adjudication, paying less attention to leadership and its role in effective case management. He said judicial leadership enables courts to operate proactively rather than reactively, which is vital for reducing backlog and fostering timely delivery of justice.
A key highlight of the training was the promotion of mediation as a practical tool for dispute resolution. The Deputy Chief Justice stated that all participating officers had been appointed as Court-Accredited Mediators and would receive their Instruments of Appointment.
"This appointment is not just a formality but an enabler for you to promote a judicial officer-mediator mindset," he said. "It's valid for one year, renewable based on performance, to encourage accountability and continuous improvement among accredited mediators."
He encouraged officers to apply their newly acquired mediation skills and fully utilize the ADR Registry, which supports and monitors the implementation of court-annexed mediation through returns, tracking outcomes, and providing feedback to sustain credibility and efficiency.
Dr. Zeija also commended the Uganda Police Force for its collaboration in the training, especially in integrating forensic science into adjudication. He urged participants to leverage forensic insights for stronger, evidence-based decision-making.
Representing the Acting Principal Judge, Lady Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga, the Head of the Criminal Division, Justice David Matovu, delivered remarks on her behalf. She lauded the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) and the participants for their commitment, noting that consistent attendance throughout the week reflected their dedication to professional growth.
The Ag. Principal Judge observed that the government has invested heavily in strengthening forensic capacity within the Police Force, and this partnership is greatly enriching criminal adjudication. She further commended JTI for helping judicial officers harmonize their approaches to justice delivery and professional standards.
Earlier in the day, participants attended final sessions on Criminal Trial Procedure, which featured expert presentations on the Role of DNA in Human Identification by ACP Andrew Mubiru, Identification of Unknown Chemical Substances by SP Dr. Jaffer Kisitu, and Computer Forensics and Electronic Evidence by SP Kenneth Angella. Each presentation was followed by a plenary discussion that deepened participants' understanding of forensic processes and their application in court proceedings.
The training concluded with the presentation of Certificates of Completion for both the Case Management and Criminal Trial Procedure modules, alongside the issuance of Instruments of Appointment as Court-Annexed Mediators.
Participants also signed a Re-Commitment to Effective and Efficient Case Management Compact, reaffirming their dedication to timely, data-driven, and user-centered justice delivery.
The day's sessions were moderated by HW Lillian Bucyana, Ag. Registrar, Judicial Training Institute, assisted by HW Dr. Nakibuule Gladys Kisekka, Deputy Registrar, JTI, and HW Zulaika Nanteza, Ag. Registrar, Alternative Dispute Resolution.
