The Chief Justice of Uganda, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, has appointed his former deputy, Justice Richard Buteera, to head the mediation program within the judiciary.
This appointment follows Justice Buteera’s recent retirement after serving as Deputy Chief Justice for four and a half years as deputy Chief Justice.
The announcement was made during a handover ceremony at the judiciary offices, where Buteera officially handed over office to his successor, Dr. Flavian Zeija, in the presence of Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo, who was the chief guest at the event.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice emphasized the importance of mediation as an effective mechanism for reducing case backlogs in courts.
He noted that countries with advanced legal systems, which Uganda aspires to emulate, have long embraced Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to handle disputes more efficiently.
As he handed over the office, Justice Richard Buteera encouraged judicial officers to continue promoting mediation, highlighting its efficiency in resolving cases quickly.
Buteera praised teamwork in the judiciary, saying it played a key role in helping him fulfill his responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Flavian Zeija, who has taken over from Buteera, announced that one of her priorities will be ensuring judges provide timely and clear rulings.
Dr Zeija noted that many people have complained about delays and lack of clarity in judgments.
According to Dr.Zeija, it is a common but unacceptable practice for some judges to declare that they will deliver any ruling without specifying the date, which causes public dissatisfaction.
Report by: Betty Zziwa
