Chief Justice directs judicial officers on mediation

KAMPALA - The Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, has directed judicial officers across the country to kick-start court sessions by sensitising litigants about the benefits of resolving their disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation and negotiation as compared to the adversarial justice system.

Zeija issued the directive while opening a one-day training on civil trial procedure for the judicial officers stationed in Northern Uganda at the Court of Appeal conference hall in Kampala on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

“As judicial officers, we must have a mediation mindset. I know you are too trained to be litigious. However, we must embrace ADR mechanisms. Therefore, before you start any court session, preach the gospel of ADR to the people,” Zeija said.

Underscoring the importance of promoting resolution of disputes through ADR, Justice Zeija, it is the only way the judiciary will overcome case backlog.

ADR mechanisms are not only less formal and cheaper but also lead to quicker resolution of disputes.

“ADR is no longer just a suggestion; it is integrated into the core case management cycle. Therefore, as judicial officers, you must screen cases at the earliest stage to identify those suitable for early diversion to mediation,” Justice Zeija said.

Zeija said judicial officers must encourage the parties to reach settlements before fixing their cases for hearing.

According to the 2025 Judiciary National Court Case Census report, the Judiciary is grappling with more than 167,353 cases, with over 46,000 cases categorised as backlog.
Unpacking the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules of 2019, Zeija said it was meant to simplify and expedite the court proceedings.  

“We must move away from the old, unfortunate standard where cases could linger for years. Our collective goal must be now to maximise judicial time and ensure that every step in a suit from filing to final disposal serves the end of substantive justice rather than procedural technicalities,” Zeija said.

According to Order 11A of the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules of 2019, a plaintiff has exactly 28 days after the last pleading to take out summons for directions, and if he or she fails to take out summons as provided, the case automatically abates.
Zeija, however, argued that judicial officers should minimise adjournments by implementing a day-to-day hearing to avoid unnecessary delays.

“This business of lawyers coming to court for adjournments must stop. If your colleague sends you to court, you must come with instructions to proceed,” Zeija said.

To the judicial officers in Northern Uganda, Zeija urged them to fully embrace ADR because there are strong cultural practices of dispute resolution. “Let us turn our courts back into houses of resolution, not houses of waiting,” Zeija said.

Zeija also appealed to the judicial officers to ensure proper management of records at their respective stations, saying it is key in resolving case backlog.

“You cannot fight case backlog if you don’t know the number of cases you have in your system. You should therefore ensure proper management of the cases before your courts,” Zeija said.

Ex-Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera urged the judicial officers to act in a manner whereby they cannot be presumed biased by the parties.

“If you choose to mediate between the parties, try as much as possible to bring the lawyers in the case on board. They will help you to quickly resolve the disputes,” Buteera said.

Encouraging the judicial officers to embrace mediation, Buteera noted that it is a justice system which Africans have lived with all through their life.

“In December 2015, the judiciary handled its first court case census, which revealed a heavy case backlog. In 2016, the Chief Justice appointed a case backlog committee, which I was privileged to chair, and we made resolutions, and one of them was adoption of ADR. We have to vigorously promote it because it will reduce backlog,” Buteera said.
Buteera also revealed that the processing of amending the mediation rules of 2013 is ongoing to make it mandatory.

“All judicial officers must emulate the Family and Commercial Courts that have since made mediation mandatory before a case is fixed for hearing,” Buteera said.

Organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), the training is part of the ongoing capacity building efforts aimed at enhancing the efficiency, consistency and quality of civil trial adjudication.

George Okello, a judge of the High Court who was among the participants in the training, thanked the Judiciary for the continuous mentorship of judicial officers that has led to improved performance.