Chief justice urges Appellate Court justices to prioritise appeals tied to national development
“We have a role to play in national development by ensuring timely adjudication of disputes relating to national development. I, therefore, appeal to you to give priority to cases relating to national development,” Zeija said.
Drawing from the theme of the retreat, “Enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in Appellate case disposal while maintaining the judicial well-being,” Zeija urged the judicial officers to embrace aerobics, noting that the wellness of a judicial officer is not a luxury but a key driver in the administration of justice. (Credit: Farooq Kasule)
KALANGALA - The Chief Justice, Dr Flavian Zeija, has urged the justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to prioritise appeals tied to national development, particularly disputes over land, infrastructure, investments, banking and revenue collection.
“We have a role to play in national development by ensuring timely adjudication of disputes relating to national development. I, therefore, appeal to you to give priority to cases relating to national development,” Zeija said.
Zeija appealed while opening a three-day joint retreat for the justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court at Brovad Sands Hotel in Kalangala district on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
The Chief Justice urged the justices to embrace collegiality because it fosters a culture of mutual respect even when they have diverging opinions on a given matter.
“I ask you to continue nurturing the spirit of brotherhood. You need to know that you are not going to have the same opinion on every matter because we come from different backgrounds. However, you should ensure consistency in the application of the law so that your judgments are logical, well-reasoned and clear,” Zeija said.
Drawing from the theme of the retreat, “Enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in Appellate case disposal while maintaining the judicial well-being,” Zeija urged the judicial officers to embrace aerobics, noting that the wellness of a judicial officer is not a luxury but a key driver in the administration of justice.
Zeija observed that well-reasoned judgments and timely justice build confidence in the judiciary. (Credit: Farooq Kasule)
“It is fitting that we stay away from the daily demands of our chambers to this expansive Lake Victoria. This retreat is vital for reflection, renewal and charting the footnotes of the trajectory of the judiciary. As the highest courts in our land, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, we are the architects of the country’s jurisprudence and we should, therefore, deliver clear and well-reasoned judgments that can be relied on by members of the lower bench,” Zeija said.
Underscoring the importance of the retreat, Zeija said emotional strain and exhaustion that come with judicial work often affect the judicial officers' reasoning and the speed of decision-making.
Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi said the retreat offers them an opportunity to reflect on how they have been performing and how to improve to ensure timely delivery of justice.
“This retreat has come at a time when our courts are facing heavy workloads requiring us to find solutions,” Kawumi said.
Kawumi noted that the demands of justice require more than legal knowledge; it also requires character and effective leadership.
“We must remain vigilant in ensuring that our courts operate efficiently and that our decisions are judiciously delivered,” Kawumi said.
Supreme Court justice Mike Chibita, who is also the chairperson of the judicial training institute, said the retreat results from the consultations made with the administrators of both the Court of Appeal and Supreme court, who advised convening of the same for the justices to reflect on their performance.
“During this retreat, we shall explore how interpersonal and intrapersonal relations affect how we relate with one another and how it affects our performance and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help us in resolving the caseloads,” Chibita said.