The Acting Chief Registrar, Pamella Lamunu Ocaya, earlier this week presided over a high-level meeting of Registrars from various registries and divisions to review draft case targets for the Financial Year 2026/2027.
The meeting was held at the Supreme Court Building.
In her remarks, Lamunu underscored the importance of the exercise, emphasising that adjudication remains the core mandate of the Judiciary of Uganda.
She noted that continuous review of performance targets is essential to ensure their relevance and alignment with institutional priorities.
“We have different case targets for the various divisions and circuits. It is important that we harmonise them, as these targets will form the basis of our performance for the Financial Year 2026/2027,” she said.
Lamunu highlighted the value of contributions from participants drawn from diverse divisions and operational contexts, noting that their input is critical in ensuring that the final targets reflect prior consultations with heads of divisions and other supervisors.
Providing technical guidance, Senior Statistician Isaac Bbossa Sserunkuma explained that target setting is aligned with the national planning cycle and informed by historical performance data, available resources, and measurable indicators.
He identified key focus areas as case disposal, backlog reduction, improved case turnaround time, and promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms such as mediation, small claims, and plea bargaining.
The Commissioner for Policy and Planning, Simon Peter Opolot, emphasised the importance of setting targets that are realistic, achievable, and collectively agreed upon, taking into account the number of judicial officers and available resources across courts.
During the discussions, participants highlighted the need for adequate funding and operational support to achieve the proposed targets, particularly for mediation programmes.
Concerns were also raised regarding workload, staffing levels, and case complexity, with calls for targets that accurately reflect institutional capacity.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding that the process will culminate in the signing and formal endorsement of the finalised performance targets for the Financial Year 2026/2027 by the Principal Judge.
