By Joseph Kiggundu
ENTEBBE — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially sworn in Moses Kazibwe Kawumi as Uganda’s new Deputy Chief Justice during a ceremony held at State House Entebbe.
While presiding over the event on Friday, the President congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his appointment and praised Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo for spearheading efforts to eliminate corruption and improve efficiency within the judiciary.
Museveni said the government has long been concerned about corruption and delays in the justice system, noting that these challenges were among the issues identified before the National Resistance Movement assumed power.
He observed that corruption in courts and excessive reliance on technical procedures had often hindered the delivery of justice, stressing the need for judicial officers to focus on substantive justice while maintaining integrity.
The President also reflected on traditional African systems of justice, saying they combined punishment with reconciliation and compensation, helping communities resolve conflicts while preserving social harmony.
Museveni welcomed the progress made by the judiciary in tackling corruption and promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which he said has helped reduce case backlogs and provided faster avenues for resolving disputes.
He further expressed satisfaction with the emergence of younger judicial officers, describing it as a positive sign for the future of Uganda’s justice sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Principal Judge Flavian Zeija congratulated President Museveni on his re-election and commended him for ensuring that vacancies within the judiciary are filled promptly, a move he said has strengthened access to justice across the country.
Zeija also congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his elevation to the position of Deputy Chief Justice and urged him to continue advancing reforms initiated in the office, particularly the digitisation of court operations.
He revealed that the judiciary is working towards implementing an integrated judicial management system aimed at connecting courts and improving service delivery nationwide.
The Principal Judge also highlighted ongoing reforms in case management, saying the judiciary is working to ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation and scheduling of cases to eliminate opportunities for corruption.
Additionally, Zeija proposed the creation of a specialised division to handle environmental and infrastructure disputes, noting the increasing importance of environmental justice in national development.
In his acceptance remarks, Justice Kazibwe thanked President Museveni for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving as Deputy Chief Justice.
He pledged to uphold the Constitution, strengthen institutional systems within the judiciary and support ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Kazibwe also committed himself to supporting the fight against corruption and enhancing public confidence in the administration of justice.
Before his appointment, Justice Kazibwe served on the Court of Appeal.
The swearing-in ceremony attracted several senior government and judicial officials, including Attorney General Sam Mayanja, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, members of the Judicial Service Commission and senior officers from the judiciary.