Zeija advises judges to reduce case backlog through mediation

KAMPALA - The newly appointed Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, has called upon judges to opt for mediation while resolving disputes in their area of service.

Zeija was speaking during the first annual alternative dispute resolution performance review meeting on Friday at the Supreme Court in Kampala, where he implored judicial officers to refer to other alternatives, such as mediation and plea bargaining, while handling court cases.

Zeija noted that last year, mediation disposed of 5,246 cases, accounting for approximately 4% of all 139,000 completed cases across civil, land, Family, commercial, and other related matters.

He cited the case  of plea bargaining,  where about 3,000 criminal cases at the high court and at criminal divisions were concluded the same year.

Zeija also called on religious leaders to step in and support the services of the Judiciary, more especially in cases that could be solved at that level, while building the body of Christ.

He also noted that it's always very hard to have peaceful communities under litigation, as it only focuses on documents that bind the parties, other than restoring human relationships.

The Industrial Court received an award for applying mediation in dispute resolution. (Credit: David Lukiiza)

He explained that the Judiciary, amidst other alternatives, believes in mediation, reconciliation, and plea bargaining since these have a powerful mode of consent, understanding, and restoration of human relationships.

“This is one way to administer justice in our communities in a manner that is timely, affordable, and that serves the needs of the people of Uganda,” he noted.

The retired Chief Justice Richard Butera noted that the formal judicial system is not properly understood by society and therefore, for such disputes need for mediators who are well-trained in a people-centred approach to justice.

Through mediation, the dispute between the estate of the late Mohammed Buwule Kasasa and the Buganda Kingdom, which had stood for more than 50 years, was resolved in 2025.

This mediation unlocked an estate worth 1.3trillion and restored a clear legal direction for tenants of equitable and legal interests on the 640-acre on Mutungo Hill.

The event was crowned by awards to several contributors to Uganda's justice system, and dispute resolutions were awarded, including the retired Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamony Owinyi Dollo, Rwot Kasimiro Ongom, the Family Court, and the Industrial Court, among others.