Judiciary seeks to deepen public trust with National Court Open Day

KAMPALA - Business in the courts will be unusual on Monday, December 15, as the Judiciary holds its second National Court Open Day at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala city. All judicial officers are expected to attend the event.

The event will be held under the theme: Enhancing Judicial Accountability and Access to Justice.”

Addressing journalists at the Supreme Court Building in Kampala on December 10, 2025, Principal Judge Jane Frances Abodo said the theme of the Court Open Day directly reflects the Judiciary’s constitutional mandate under Article 126(1), which provides that judicial power is derived from the people and must be exercised transparently, fairly and in the name of the people.

“The theme reflects our commitment to deepening public trust through openness and engagement,” she noted.

The Principal Judge added that the National Court Open Day provides a platform for Ugandans to interact freely with judicial officers, ask questions, seek clarification on court processes, and share feedback on their experiences with the justice system.

She said the success of the inaugural event in 2024 demonstrated the value of public engagement in strengthening confidence in the courts and improving service delivery.

Building on that foundation, Abodo said this year’s event places renewed emphasis on accountability, adding that key concerns raised last year, including allegations of bias, delays in case disposal and difficulties in navigating court procedures, are being addressed through ongoing judicial reforms.

“The Court Open Day provides an opportunity for the public to see these reforms firsthand, understand how they improve access to justice, and provide feedback that will guide further improvement,” she observed.

Abodo said the theme underscores Judiciary’s belief that justice must be accessible, understandable and responsive to the needs of the people.

The Principal Judge called upon court users, legal practitioners, community leaders and members of the public to attend the event at Kololo, noting that their participation and voices are critical in shaping reforms and strengthening a justice system that belongs to the people.

Innovations

Abodo said the Judiciary will showcase several innovations, including the digitalisation of case management through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), the expansion of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms such as mediation and plea bargaining, improvements in customer care and court-user guidance, and ongoing infrastructure developments aimed at bringing justice services closer to communities.

She added that strengthening the Inspectorate of Courts, including plans to establish a stronger regional presence, will also be highlighted as part of the broader accountability framework.

Acting chief registrar Pamela Ocaya Lamunu said the public will access information desks for all court levels, including the Supreme Court, each staffed by judicial and non-judicial officers ready to explain processes, demonstrate systems and respond to questions.

She said the stations will offer practical guidance on case filing, bail procedures, mediation, criminal and civil procedures, appeal processes and other areas of interest.

Lamunu said there will be live demonstrations of ECCMIS, the digital system streamlining case registration, filing, payments, scheduling and case tracking, noting that digitalisation enhances accountability and access by reducing human error, eliminating unnecessary delays and creating transparent audit trails.

She said feedback collected during the Court Open Day will be analysed and integrated into ongoing Judiciary reforms.

Lamunu disclosed that insights gathered last year informed improvements in customer service, court-user guides and public communication.

She expressed optimism that this year’s engagement will generate deeper perspectives to make justice more accessible, responsive and accountable.