The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, has urged Justices of the Court of Appeal to uphold collegiality, embrace technology, and promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as key tools for enhancing access to justice and efficiency within the Judiciary.
Justice Geoffrey Kiryabirwe, represented Deputy Chief Justice at the closing ceremony of the five-day induction training for newly appointed Justices of the Court of Appeal at the Imperial Golf View Hotel, Entebbe.
Organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in partnership with the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the induction aimed to orient the Justices on the mandate, values, and operational culture of the Court.
The programme concluded with the presentation of Certificates of Completion and Instruments of Appointment as Court-Annexed Mediators.
In his message, Dr Zeija commended the Chief Justice, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, for his support towards continuous professional development, and applauded the JTI Governing Council and its Executive Director, Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, for organising the timely programme.
“We have been called to serve at a level where our work will shape jurisprudence and define the course of justice in our country,” he said.
“As appellate Justices, our responsibility goes beyond error correction. We are custodians of precedent, interpreters of the Constitution, and guardians of the rule of law.”
The Deputy Chief Justice emphasised ADR as a vital tool to decongest courts and foster reconciliation. “ADR enhances the delivery of justice by offering litigants a more participatory, cost-effective, and restorative path to resolving disputes,” he noted, urging Justices to cultivate a “Judicial Officer Mediator Mindset” rooted in empathy, impartiality, and creativity.
He also highlighted the Judiciary’s ongoing digital transformation through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), virtual hearings, and e-filing.
“Technology enhances not only the speed of our work but also the integrity of the judicial process. A modern Court of Appeal must be both intellectually and technologically proficient,” he said.
Dr Zeija further underscored collegiality as central to appellate adjudication. “Collegiality requires humility, the willingness to listen, and the ability to differ without hostility.
“When we work together harmoniously, we not only enrich our jurisprudence but also strengthen the institutional integrity of the Judiciary.”
He reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to revising the Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court Rules based on insights from the training, reminding Justices that “justice is not only about the decisions we make; the processes we follow are equally important.”
Justice Kiryabirwe, on behalf of the Deputy Chief Justice, officially declared the induction closed, marking the culmination of a week of learning, reflection, and engagement aimed at strengthening appellate adjudication in Uganda.
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