By KT Reporter
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has appointed retired Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera as the head of court-annexed mediation in Uganda. The appointment follows Buteera’s official retirement from the Judiciary on April 9, 2025, after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 70 and serving for over four decades.
The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon during a handover ceremony at the Judiciary headquarters, where Buteera handed over the office of Deputy Chief Justice to his successor, Dr. Flavian Zeija. Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo presided over the ceremony as Chief Guest.
In his remarks, Owiny-Dollo praised Buteera as a considerate and principled leader, noting that his calm and composed demeanor helped maintain harmony at the top echelons of the Judiciary despite occasional tensions.
He revealed that both he and Buteera had applied for the position of Chief Justice, with Owiny-Dollo emerging successful and Buteera coming in second. As a result, Buteera was appointed Deputy Chief Justice without requiring a second interview.
In his speech, Justice Buteera expressed gratitude to the President, Parliament, the Chief Justice, and the Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary for the opportunity to serve. He pledged to continue championing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), describing it as a citizen-friendly and accessible way of resolving disputes. Buteera revealed that before his retirement, he had developed a strategic work plan to expand ADR services across the Judiciary and urged his successor to emphasize teamwork for effective justice delivery.
Dr. Flavian Zeija, in his acceptance speech, commended Buteera for laying the groundwork for ADR and pledged to build on his legacy. He, however, raised concerns over persistent challenges in the higher courts, including delays in delivering judgments and conflicting rulings.
Zeija criticized the common practice of judges reserving rulings “on notice” without giving clear timelines, saying it had led to public frustration. He emphasized the urgent need to provide certainty around the delivery of judgments, especially in higher courts.
Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo described Dr. Zeija as vibrant and hardworking, urging him to address the growing problem of limited judicial manpower. He advised him to advocate for an increase in the number of judges at the Court of Appeal, High Court, and Supreme Court-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
