Administration of Justice Programme Targets Systemic Bottlenecks to Improve Justice Delivery
The Administration of Justice Programme has held a strategic working group engagement aimed at identifying systemic bottlenecks affecting justice delivery and developing coordinated interventions to improve performance and public service delivery.
The engagement, held on Thursday at the Supreme Court Building in Kampala, was led by the Deputy Head of Public Service in charge of Performance and Service Delivery, Ms Jane Kyarisiima Mwesiga, and co-chaired by the Judiciary Under Secretary, Ms Maureen Kasande.
The meeting assessed the performance and implementation of the Administration of Justice Programme, with particular emphasis on strengthening public value and supporting Uganda’s economic transformation.
Ms Kyarisiima called on institutions under the Programme to work systematically and seamlessly, noting that effective justice delivery depends on the performance of the entire justice chain rather than individual institutions working in isolation.
She said the engagement was intended to identify what needs to change, assign responsibility and agree on practical interventions to improve performance.
“We are here to agree on what needs to be changed, who needs to act, and how to strengthen the rule of law, investment and the economic growth of the country,” she said.
Ms Kyarisiima emphasised that the exercise was intended to support institutions to perform better for Ugandans rather than merely identify shortcomings.
She observed that justice is a critical enabler of economic growth, particularly through the timely resolution of commercial and land disputes, enforcement of contracts and protection of property rights.
She further explained that public value is created when citizens feel secure and have confidence that disputes will be resolved fairly and within a reasonable time.
The discussions linked the Programme’s priorities to the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), particularly reducing case backlog and improving access to justice as part of building a competitive economy supported by predictable enforcement of contracts and property rights.
Programme Identifies Justice Delivery Bottlenecks
During the engagement, the Office of the Prime Minister presented key bottlenecks affecting the Administration of Justice Programme, including case backlog, staffing gaps, prison congestion, fragmented planning, digital investment needs, the cost of accessing justice, legal reforms and integrity concerns.
Participants noted that case backlog remains at approximately 24 per cent, with an estimated Shs3.5 trillion tied up in commercial disputes.
The meeting also discussed staffing challenges across the justice chain, with about 37 per cent of approved positions reportedly filled, as well as prison congestion, where occupancy was reported to exceed 300 per cent, partly attributed to prolonged remand periods.
The engagement examined measures for reducing these pressures, including stronger performance management, improved case prioritization and greater coordination among institutions.
Participants proposed the use of performance scorecards to strengthen accountability and ensure that existing human resources are optimally utilized, alongside efforts to address staffing gaps.
Institutions were also challenged to look beyond requests for additional funding and explore innovative approaches, including business process re-engineering and strengthened performance management systems, to improve service delivery.
Push for Integrated Justice System
A key focus of the discussions was the need for seamless integration across the justice chain, particularly among the Uganda Police Force, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Judiciary and Uganda Prisons Service.
Participants observed that fragmented planning and continued reliance on manual, paper-based processes disrupt the flow of information between institutions, contributing to delays and lost files.
The meeting therefore explored how institutions could move away from siloed operations towards a more integrated digital justice system capable of supporting information sharing and efficient case management across the justice chain.
Other issues discussed included measures to reduce the cost of accessing justice, particularly the mandatory 30 per cent tax deposit requirement before the Tax Appeals Tribunal, and mechanisms for ensuring that cases involving persons on prolonged remand receive timely attention.
Judiciary Highlights Programme-Level Engagement
Ms Kasande informed the meeting that the Administration of Justice Programme Leadership Committee, chaired by the Chief Justice, had discussed many of the issues raised during its meeting in July.
She added that plans were underway for engagement with the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development on financing requirements for the Programme.
At the close of the strategic engagement, Programme institutions agreed to reconvene to examine the identified systemic bottlenecks in greater detail and develop specific interventions, including their funding requirements where applicable.
It was agreed to hold a follow-up engagement which is expected to sharpen institutional responsibilities and identify practical measures for building a more coordinated, efficient and responsive justice system.
Posted 17th, September 2026
