The Judiciary Integrity Committee (JIC) and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration on early intervention, peer support and information-sharing to promote integrity, professional competence and accountability within the Judiciary.
The commitment followed a meeting between the two institutions held today at JLOS Towers in Naguru, Kampala, where they reviewed progress since their previous engagement and discussed ways of addressing ethical and professional concerns before they escalate into disciplinary cases.
The JSC Chairperson, Justice Dr Douglas Singiza, said the Commission had increased the frequency of its disciplinary committee meetings to expedite complaints and was reviewing its anti-corruption strategy to strengthen integrity within the JSC and Judiciary. “The number of sittings has been significantly enhanced. Previously, we held about 20 sittings in an entire Financial Year. We have now increased this to at least 19 sittings every quarter, translating to about 75 sittings annually.”
He also highlighted improvements in recruitment, development of principles on diversity, and ongoing research on the appointment of Judges in acting capacity and the judicial clerking system.
Justice Singiza said the JSC has remained firm against indiscipline, particularly conduct touching on integrity, but welcomed continued dialogue on balancing disciplinary action with rehabilitation and reform where appropriate.
The JIC Chairperson, Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, said the recently launched Peer Committees were designed to identify and address concerns relating to professional competence and judicial ethics before they develop into formal disciplinary matters.
She noted that Judicial Officers may be more receptive to constructive intervention from colleagues and advocated mechanisms to support officers who make mistakes but subsequently demonstrate genuine reform, competence and professional growth.
“Let’s devise a mechanism to address these real issues that we are confronted with,” she said.
Lady Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, the Deputy Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission who also doubles as the Chairperson of the Commission’s Disciplinary Committee highlighted capacity constraints facing the JSC Disciplinary Committee, including a backlog of complaints, some dating back to 2017.
She explained that the Committee handles disciplinary matters delegated to it by the Commission, from preliminary assessment and hearing respondents to making recommendations in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Lady Justice Kania stressed that every complaint is considered on its merits and respondents are given an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the principles of natural justice. She said disciplinary matters include neglect of duty, incompetence and failure to comply with lawful directions, among others.
She further clarified that retirement does not extinguish an ongoing disciplinary process, and said ongoing restructuring and collaboration with stakeholders were expected to strengthen capacity and expedite the disposal of outstanding complaints.
Lady Justice Mugenyi said closer collaboration between the JIC and JSC should ensure that integrity, competence and professionalism remain central to career development within the Judiciary.
“We all want to see the Judiciary shine,” she said, underscoring the shared goal of building a clean, efficient and effective Judiciary that serves all Ugandans.
Closing the meeting, the Judiciary representative on the JSC, Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke, called for greater openness and reliable information-sharing between the two institutions, particularly on complaints, performance records and allegations of corruption.
She proposed more regular JIC–JSC engagements to enable concerns to be discussed, clarified and addressed directly.
The meeting was attended by members of the Judiciary Integrity Committee and the Judicial Service Commission.
Posted 2nd, September 2026
