By KT Reporter
The Deputy Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, has called for enhanced judicial preparedness ahead of the 2026 electoral cycle.
He emphasized the need for continuous training and capacity building among the judicial officers to ensure the timely and impartial resolution of electoral disputes.
His speech was read by the Acting Principal Judge Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga at a meeting held to validate the Judiciary Electoral Disputes Training Manual and Facilitators’ Guide at the Court of Appeal in Kampala.
Justice Zeija described the validation exercise as a significant milestone in strengthening the Judiciary’s readiness to handle election-related cases efficiently.
“Elections are the cornerstone of democratic governance, but they often generate disputes that require the Judiciary to act promptly, with integrity, impartiality, and efficiency,” he said.
He outlined areas likely to generate contention in upcoming elections, including allegations of malpractice, vote counting and tallying disputes, candidate qualification challenges, and social media defamation.
He added that the credibility of the entire electoral process depends on how fairly, expeditiously, and transparently these disputes are resolved.
He noted that the Judiciary’s constitutional duty under Article 128 requires judicial officers to deliver justice without fear or favour and within a reasonable time.
“We cannot be truly expeditious unless we equip every judicial officer from magistrates handling local council petitions to justices in the Supreme Court with knowledge, practical skills, and unified approaches to deliver justice confidently and consistently,” said the Deputy Chief Justice.
He commended the development of the new training manual and facilitators’ guide as both timely and strategic, noting that it provides a structured framework to ensure consistency in interpreting and applying electoral laws across all court levels.
He also praised the Taskforce Committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Mike Chibita, and the consulting team from the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) for their contribution, while recognizing the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) for advancing the Judiciary’s training agenda.
Justice Zeija acknowledged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Uganda for funding the manual, affirming the Judiciary’s commitment to accountability and excellence in election dispute resolution.
“This validation meeting allows us to refine the manual into a living document that supports not only the upcoming elections but also future electoral cycles,” he said. He called upon the judicial officers to ensure that it becomes a tool that upholds their vision of administering justice independently, impartially, and timely manner.
The meeting, chaired by Supreme Court Lady Justice Professor Lillian Tibatemwa, brought together justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, High Court judges, magistrates, registrars, members of the Uganda Law Society, academia, and representatives from development partners.
Speaking at the same event, Justice Professor Andrew Khaukha, the Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute, called for a unified and consistent approach to managing election disputes across all court levels.
“This validation meeting reviews the draft election dispute resolution training and rules manual as part of our effort to enhance the administration of justice in electoral matters and strengthen the Judiciary’s capacity to manage disputes efficiently, impartially, and credibly,” he said.
Justice Khaukha recalled that the Chief Justice had observed inconsistencies in the management and adjudication of election disputes, prompting the need for a uniform training manual.
“A committee chaired by Hon. Justice Mike Chibita was therefore constituted to make proposals for the manual, supported by a consultancy funded by UNDP and managed by HURIPEC,” he explained.
He noted that the development process involved technical review meetings, stakeholder consultations, and presentation of an inception report by the consultants.
“Validation allows stakeholders to provide input before the manual is used in future trainings,” he said.
Khaukha commended the attendance of senior judges and the expertise of the HURIPEC team, noting confidence that the exercise would result in a refined document to strengthen electoral dispute management.
Lawyer Jude Byamukama raised a thought-provoking issue on whether the Court of Appeal should have the power to depart from its own previous decisions, noting that the Constitution explicitly grants this authority only to the Supreme Court.
He said this remains an important question for future consideration, particularly as the Court of Appeal serves as the final authority in parliamentary election appeals.
The meeting was also attended by the Electoral Commission representatives, including its litigation lawyers Eric Sabiti and Hamidu Lugoloobi, and academic experts such as Dr. Busingye Kabumba from Makerere University.
The Judiciary in the previous 2021 elections registered more than 150 election petitions arising from both Parliamentary and Local Government elections.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
