By KT Reporter
Uganda’s Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, has applauded the Judiciary’s performance in the 2024/25 Financial Year, citing improvement in case disposal, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and access to justice.
He made the remarks while launching the Judiciary Annual Performance Report for FY 2024/25 at the Supreme Court in Kampala. The Annual Performance Report is a requirement under the Administration of Justice Act which was enacted in 2020 and is now being operationalized.
According to the fifth Annual report, the Judiciary registered a total of 279,630 new cases during the year and brought forward 170,494 from the previous year, making a total caseload of 450,124.
Of these, Chief Justice said 259,331 cases were disposed of, reflecting a disposal rate of 58 percent. Criminal cases dominated the case filings, accounting for 125,686 registered and 118,883 disposed of, However land cases continued to face significant delays, with the lowest disposal rate recorded at 41.40 percent
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Owiny-Dollo attributed improved performance to a combination of reforms including increased staffing, the expansion of court circuits, enhanced use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and the rollout of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS). He noted that Chief Magistrates and High Courts performed particularly well under these interventions.
The report also indicates a reduction in case backlog from 26.32 percent in the previous financial year to 24.20 percent. At the close of the year, there were 190,793 pending cases, of which 46,181 were classified as backlog. The Chief Justice emphasized that sustained use of court-annexed mediation, settlement weeks, plea bargaining sessions, and continuous hearings under the Criminal Division had been instrumental in tackling backlog. Despite these gains, Owiny-Dollo has acknowledged that backlog remains a major challenge, exacerbated by a growing number of new case filings driven by increased public awareness and trust in the Judiciary.
In terms of financial performance, the Report indicates that the Judiciary’s budget rose from 392.5 billion shillings in FY2023/24 to 442.3 billion shillings in FY2024/25. This increase, coupled with donor support, enabled the institution to strengthen its operations and service delivery according to the Chief Justice.
The Judiciary remitted UGX 12.09 billion in Non-Tax Revenue to the Consolidated Fund, marking a 13.27 percent increase. Revenue from court fees and fines rose by 19.40 percent, while miscellaneous revenues recorded a sharp rise of 184.86 percent. The Judiciary also collected UGX 6.82 billion in bail deposits and refunded UGX 4.99 billion. However, the Chief Justice has revealed that pending bail refunds rose to UGX 26.12 billion, and the Chief Justice urged beneficiaries to follow up on their claims.
The Judiciary’s innovation agenda also recorded significant progress. A total of 3,760 cases were concluded through plea bargaining in High Courts and Chief Magistrate Courts, achieving a 75.2 percent clearance rate.
According to the Report, the Small Claims Procedure was expanded to 223 courts, completing 24,976 cases with claims valued at over UGX 19.5 billion. Mediation efforts yielded 6,803 successful resolutions out of 10,401 registered cases, unlocking economic value and easing court congestion.
On the legal front, the report states that Judiciary developed and disseminated several regulations and rules to support justice delivery, including the Judiciary (Electronic Filing, Service and Virtual Proceedings) Rules, 2025, and the Judiciary Service Regulations. Inspections were ramped up, with 349 conducted nationwide. Out of 1,288 complaints received, 1,268 were investigated to completion, and 69 disciplinary cases were handled, resulting in various administrative actions including dismissals and interdictions. The Judiciary leadership also resolved over 92 percent of complaints lodged directly with their offices, addressing issues such as case delays, corruption allegations, and file mismanagement.
Access to legal reference materials was improved with the distribution of bench books, practice guides, and updated editions of principal laws to courts.
Further, that more than 7,000 court decisions and laws were uploaded to the Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII) platform to facilitate legal research and public access. Subscriptions to online legal databases like LEXISNEXIS further enhanced the Judiciary’s research capacity.
The Judiciary has also revealed that significant strides were made in expanding and improving court infrastructure. New court buildings in Rukungiri and Budaka were completed and handed over, while others in Soroti, Tororo, Lyantonde, Alebtong, Karenga, and Adjumani neared completion. Renovation and maintenance work was carried out in various courts including Mbale, Kapchorwa, Kumi, Nabweru, and Hoima, while new construction projects at Mpigi, Rakai, Amolatar, Bubulo, and several Grade I courts began mobilization.
The Judiciary also stepped up its digital transformation, rolling out ECCMIS to 23 additional courts and installing 53 video conferencing systems in 21 courts and 18 prisons. Two new digital recording and transcription systems were procured, bringing the total to 93 in 44 courts. Internet connectivity was expanded to 12 more courts, and the development of a Judgment Writing Tool reached 75 percent completion.
Despite these accomplishments, the Chief Justice has indicated that the Justice system continues to face major challenges. Only 32 percent of approved staff positions are filled, and ECCMIS remains operational in just 11.5 percent of the 271 courts nationwide, limiting the effectiveness of automation. Funding gaps have also affected critical operations such as state-funded legal aid, locus visits, and alternative dispute resolution efforts.
Looking ahead to FY2025/26, the Judiciary plans to prioritize strengthening adjudication through expanded use of ADR, plea bargaining, and the Small Claims Procedure. It also intends to roll out ECCMIS to 20 more courts, digitize court records, and finalize the Judgment Writing Tool.
The construction of key infrastructure including regional Courts of Appeal in Mbarara and Gulu, new High Court buildings, and magistrates’ residences will also be fast-tracked.
To improve mobility and court outreach, the Judiciary has indicated that they will procure transport equipment, including vehicles, motorcycles, and a motorboat to serve island areas. In response to persistent power outages, generators will be installed at High Court circuits in Hoima, Kasese, Arua, Ntungamo, Masindi, and Kiboga, while solar systems will be fitted in 10 additional courts.
As such, Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo has lauded the leadership and staff of the Judiciary for their dedication and called on all stakeholders to reflect on the achievements, address the gaps, and renew their commitment to delivering justice with integrity and professionalism.
Meanwhile Lady Justice Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza has presented highlights of the Compendium on Enhancing Electoral Justice which are aimed at indicating the Judiciary’s role in safeguarding democratic governance by ensuring electoral disputes are resolved impartially, in accordance with the law, and in a manner that strengthens public trust in the Judiciary.
These come hot on the wheels as the country prepares to go for general elections in 2026
SUmming it all up, the Acting Chief Registrar, HW Lamunu Pamella Ocaya, emphasized that the Annual Performance Report is a key accountability tool through which the Judiciary demonstrates transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness in delivering justice. She noted that the report showcases progress made, milestones achieved, and challenges encountered.
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