Principal Judge Urges Caution in Land Evictions

Flavian Zeija pointed out that land disputes are often complex and can escalate into larger conflicts, citing the example of land wrangles in Israel as a reminder of how such issues can transcend local disputes to affect communities and states.

Mbale – Principal Judge Flavian Zeija has called on judicial officers to exercise caution when handling land eviction cases, describing them as "delicate."

His comments came during the opening of a two-day regional workshop aimed at familiarizing judicial officers from the eastern region with updates to court rules and practice directions.

The workshop, which was held in Mbale, provides an important opportunity for orientation on the new procedures.

"Land is an emotive issue, and evictions—whether at the national, state, or individual level—are always sensitive matters," Zeija said.

He pointed out that land disputes are often complex and can escalate into larger conflicts, citing the example of land wrangles in Israel as a reminder of how such issues can transcend local disputes to affect communities and states.

In addition to his remarks on land evictions, Zeija addressed another critical issue affecting the judicial process: obstructionism by advocates.

He cautioned judicial officers against allowing delays by lawyers to hinder the swift resolution of cases.

“These rules empower you to ensure that you do not tolerate lawyers who do not want the case to end,” Zeija said.

He also cautioned the judicial officers against undue absenteeism, which causes inconveniences to the litigants and delays justice.

The workshop focused on the rules and practice directions that cover the period from 2016 to 2022.

These reforms aim to streamline case management, reduce case backlog, ensure timely and fair delivery of justice, and strengthen public confidence in the judiciary.

Zeija referred to the Judiciary Case Backlog Monitoring Committee Report of 2019, which highlighted gaps in legislation and court rules as major contributors to the growing backlog of cases in Uganda’s courts.

The report underscored the urgent need for reforms to speed up case resolution and improve the efficiency of the justice system.

Despite challenges such as limited financial resources, he expressed confidence that the judicial officers attending the workshop would gain valuable insights to better apply the new rules in their daily work.

Finally, Dr. Zeija reminded judicial officers of the importance of adhering to the Judicial Code of Conduct.

He stressed that applying the new rules with integrity and professionalism is key to ensuring a fair and transparent judicial process.

This training is part of broader efforts to improve Uganda’s judiciary and ensure that the court system meets the justice needs of all citizens effectively and efficiently.