Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has announced sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening accountability within the judiciary, including the public release of annual performance reports for all judicial officers.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Judicial Service Commission at the Supreme Court in Kampala, Zeija said the Judiciary would no longer tolerate persistent underperformance and would make performance records publicly accessible through its website.
"We shall start publishing the annual performance of all judicial officers on our website. The public must know who is performing and who is not. They should know if someone is taking public money without delivering," Zeija said.
He said non-performance would become one of the Judiciary's key disciplinary priorities, adding that judicial officers who consistently fail to meet expected standards would face disciplinary action.
"A judicial officer who cannot deliver should go through the appropriate process. If judicial work is not suitable for them, there are other areas where they can be useful," he said.
Zeija said the Judiciary's performance enhancement system would be integrated with the Judicial Service Commission to ensure that appointments and promotions are informed by objective performance data.
He said under the arrangement, members of the commission will be able to access an officer's performance record during promotion interviews.
"When you appear before the commission seeking promotion, they should be able to look at your performance statistics. If the record is poor, you will have to explain why," he said.
The Chief Justice added that the Judicial Service Commission has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that only competent and deserving officers rise through the ranks.
The Chief Justice also underscored the importance of technology in improving justice delivery, saying traditional methods alone cannot meet the demands of a modern justice system.
He cited the rollout of the Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) as one of the Judiciary's major reforms, saying the digital platform has reduced case processing times, minimised physical interaction, reduced file loss and enhanced transparency.
Zeija urged the Judicial Service Commission to embrace technology in recruitment, appointments and disciplinary processes to improve efficiency and transparency.
JSC Reports Gains
The Judicial Service Commission Chairperson Dr. Douglas Singiza said the seventh commission has made several gains, mentioning recommending appointments for all four of the Judiciary's top administrative positions, including the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Principal Judge and Chief Registrar.
Singiza was appointed as JSC chairperson in March 2025.
According to Singiza, only one nominee was returned during the appointment process, which he said reflected the commission's emphasis on competence, integrity and experience.
"Only one name was bounced back. This speaks to the quality of our appointment process, one that focuses on competency, trust and experience," he said.
He added that the commission has appointed a record number of judicial officers and support staff while correcting previous appointment anomalies through corrigenda.
Singiza said the commission is also working to ensure that recruitment reflects Uganda's diversity, in line with constitutional requirements.
Dr.Singiza said JSC has approved a locally developed diversity-mapping system to monitor representation across the Judiciary.
According to Singiza, data covering the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Chief Magistrates and Grade One Magistrates has already been compiled, while data collection for other judicial categories is ongoing.
He also announced plans to develop an electronic recruitment system during the 2026/27 financial year.
The platform will be integrated into the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) to support transparent and efficient recruitment processes.
Singiza said the commission has strengthened its disciplinary and complaints-handling system by placing it under the direct supervision of Deputy Chairperson Rosette Comfort Kania.
He said the new approach has significantly reduced the time taken to investigate complaints, allowing the commission to conclude disciplinary cases more efficiently.
As a result, he said the commission has imposed a range of sanctions, including dismissals, demotions, compensation orders and reprimands against errant judicial officers.
According to Singiza, the improvements were achieved by reducing delays in investigations, deploying additional personnel and reallocating resources to ensure disciplinary matters are handled promptly.
