High Court Judges have committed to strengthening case management, improving data accuracy and intensifying efforts to reduce case backlog following the conclusion of the High Court Quarterly Performance Review Retreat at Kampala Nile Resort, Namanve.
The third and final day of the retreat saw the all High Court Judges present their performance reports for the fourth quarter of the Financial Year 2025/2026, highlighting achievements, challenges and areas requiring improvement.
Closing the retreat, the Deputy Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Case Management Committee, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, commended the High Court for its performance and acknowledged challenges relating to funding, infrastructure, staffing and other operational requirements.
He expressed optimism that some of the constraints would be addressed as resources become available, while urging court leaders to prioritise within existing resources.
“Thanks a lot for all you are doing. You are doing very well as the High Court,” Justice Kawumi said.
With Judges expected to handle election petitions, the Deputy Chief Justice urged them to prepare adequately and remain vigilant against external pressure or attempts to influence their work.
He emphasised the importance of resilience, independence and proper preparation in handling the petitions.
Justice Kawumi also called for better management of case transfers, noting that transferring matters after substantial proceedings have been completed can unnecessarily burden the receiving Judge and delay conclusion of cases.
Where possible, he said, Judges should conclude substantially heard matters before transfer.
On staffing challenges, particularly the shortage of interpreters in areas with multiple local languages, he encouraged courts to work with the Human Resources office to explore practical local recruitment and deployment options.
The retreat adopted a number of measures aimed at strengthening High Court performance, case management and accountability. The resolutions were presented by the Registrar, High Court, HW Prossy Katushabe.
Among the key resolutions, each Head of Division and Circuit will develop a concise Quarterly Improvement Plan outlining priority interventions, with progress to be reviewed at the next quarterly performance meeting.
Heads of Divisions and Circuits were also urged to consistently follow up and report on resolutions from previous performance reviews through a clear tracking mechanism.
Judges will strengthen operational supervision and the security of case files being transferred to the Court of Appeal, while working closely with Registrars, clerks and systems administrators to improve the accuracy of court data.
The reporting framework will also be refined to improve consistency and include dedicated reporting on juvenile justice.
The Judicial Training Institute (JTI) was tasked with developing criteria for selecting candidates for mediator training and accreditation.
The Retreat also examined inconsistencies in court statistics and the capture of performance data on the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) and the Court Case Administration System (CCAS).
Principal Information Management Officer, Mr Joseph Ssinabulya, explained that some discrepancies arise from transferred manual files that lack complete information, delayed system updates and differences in the way data is captured.
He also highlighted gaps in the recording of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) outcomes, including plea bargaining and mediation, with some courts reporting strong performance while the electronic systems reflected little or no activity.
Judges were consequently urged to regularly reconcile physical files with ECCMIS and CCAS and work with their court teams to ensure timely and accurate data entry.
The Retreat further called for refresher training for systems administrators and ICT personnel to strengthen court data management.
Courts were urged to closely track their oldest cases, pending judgments and rulings, and matters involving accused persons who have remained on bail for extended periods.
The Judges also recommended stronger early identification and referral of suitable cases to ADR, backed by stakeholder sensitisation, coordination and monitoring.
Divisions and Circuits were encouraged to regularly review their statistics to identify discrepancies and emerging performance challenges before quarterly reviews.
Discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen juvenile justice, including engagement with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development on the availability of remand homes to reduce long-distance transportation of juveniles and prevent their detention alongside adults.
Participants further underscored the need for continuous professional development in emerging areas affecting justice delivery, including artificial intelligence and deepfakes, cybercrime and digital fraud, oil and gas, climate-related litigation, fintech and digital lending.
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, thanked the Judges for their participation and contribution to the retreat and commended them for their continued service across the High Court.
Posted 4th, September 2026
