KAMPALA.
President Museveni has urged judicial officers to always ensure that they expeditiously deliver justice, emphasing that justice delayed is justice denied.
“…when justice is delayed or denied, it creates anger and unrest, undermining social harmony .Justice should ensure calmness in the country. No one should feel angry because of failure to get justice,” Mr Museveni said on Tuesday while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of 21 recently appointed judges of the High Court at State House, Entebbe.
The President’s appeal comes on the backdrop of cases where litigants file cases but wait for ages to get justice. The most delayed cases include those which are political and land related matters.
He called for a justice system that resolves disputes quickly and fairly, preventing unnecessary tension and frustration among the people.
Mr Museveni emphasized that justice must focus on equality and fairness, ensuring that those who have been wronged receive redress. According to him, the judicial system should be driven by the need to protect the rights of victims and hold offenders accountable without bias or unnecessary delay.
“Justice means ensuring there is fairness for the one who is wronged,” Mr Museveni said.
President Museveni further appealed to the judiciary to reconsider the frequent granting of bail to offenders, especially those involved in stealing government resources intended to support local communities.
“For the judiciary, I am appealing to you , no more bail for such cases,” he said firmly.
He urged them to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms as a vital tool for dispute resolution, ensuring that the justice system remains accessible, fair, and responsive to the needs of all Ugandans.
“Let justice bring calmness, fairness, and economic strength,” he concluded.
President Museveni proposed renaming ADR to “Original Dispute Resolution,” arguing that traditional systems of resolving conflicts have long existed in African cultures and should be embraced alongside formal legal processes.
“According to our original dispute resolution, like in Banyankole tradition, if a woman was unhappy in her marriage, she would return to her parents, and both families would sit down and have a roundtable discussion. Whoever was found wrong, be it the husband or wife would pay some sort of compensation, except in serious cases like murder,” he said.
Mr Museveni thus reiterated his call to expand ADR to every corner of Uganda, emphasising the need for fast, fair, and affordable dispute resolution.
The President stressed that local tribunals should be empowered to handle minor cases, reducing the burden on formal courts and ensuring that justice is delivered swiftly.
“We need to take ADR down to the villages, Let the local tribunals handle cases like stolen goats or family disputes. It’s cheaper, quicker, and rooted in our culture,” he said.
President Museveni expressed satisfaction that ADR was finally gaining recognition, but challenged judicial officers to make it more accessible to ordinary citizens.
“Why can’t you sit down and listen instead of standing here and there with arguments of objection and ‘My Lord’? This system you are using is very expensive. We need to downgrade ADR to the villages. Remove magistrates from handling village cases and use local tribunals. If someone steals a goat, they can replace it immediately instead of dragging the case through costly legal procedures,” he said.
The President pointed out the dangers of releasing criminals back into the community through police bonds and judicial bails, especially those who steal resources meant to uplift vulnerable populations.
“In villages, we give people pigs, chickens, and other support under government programmes, but when thieves steal these, the police give them bonds, and the courts give them bail. This discredits the justice system at the grassroots level,” President Museveni noted.
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On his part, the Chief Justice of Uganda, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, also highlighted the importance of ADR in delivering justice, urging judicial officers to embrace and strengthen the system.
He noted that ADR has played a critical role in maintaining stability in Uganda.
“Over 90 percent of all known disputes worldwide are resolved through ADR. What has stabilised Uganda is not just the formal justice system ,but also traditional and informal justice mechanisms. As a judiciary, we are working to formalize these systems to make justice more accessible and efficient,” he said.
The Chief Justice also acknowledged the tremendous growth in Uganda’s judiciary, attributing it to President Museveni’s commitment to justice sector reforms.
“Never before has the judiciary received 30 judicial officers at once; 21 High Court judges, 8 Court of Appeal justices, and 1 Supreme Court justice. These are historical appointments, and I hail and congratulate you, Your Excellency, in equal measure,” he stated.
On his part, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr Norbert Mao reminded the newly sworn-in judges of the immense responsibility that comes with their roles, urging them to uphold the rule of law and remain mindful that their decisions will always be subject to public scrutiny.
“We call upon the newly sworn-in judges to remember that they, too, will be judged by history, by the people, and by their conscience. Whatever you do, always consider the context of each case, especially those involving the security and stability of our nation,” he emphasized.
The judges sworn-in include; Justice Sarah Langa Siu , Justice Rosemary Bareebe Ngabirano, Justice Mary Babirye, Justice Lillian Alum Omara, Justice Charles Kasibayo, Justice Mary Kaitesi Kisakye, Justice Susan Odongo, Justice Karooli Lwanga Ssemogerere, Justice Joanita Gertrude Bushara, Justice Simon Peter Kinobe Mutegeki, Justice Vincent Opyene, Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala, Justice Isaac Teko Bony, Justice Deepa Verma, Justice Flavia Grace Lamuno, Justice Fatuma Nanziri Bwanika, Justice Kwemara Kafuuzi Gelase, Justice Godfrey Himbaza, Justice Andrew Khaukha, Justice Dr. Ginamia Melody Ngwatu and Justice Ida Nakiganda.