Vice President Jessica Alupo has officially opened the 27th Annual Judges’ Conference, urging judicial officers to prioritise wellness as a foundation for efficiency, integrity, and timely justice delivery.
Representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Alupo presided over the opening at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where Justices, Judges, Registrars, and key justice sector stakeholders from Uganda and abroad have convened for the three-day event.
Organised by the Judicial Training Institute in partnership with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the conference runs under the theme: “Judicial Wellness: A Tool for Effective Case Management.”
Its goal is to strengthen the wellbeing, resilience, and productivity of judicial officers as a pathway to improved service delivery.
In his keynote address, Chief Justice Flavian Zeija highlighted the link between justice and the wellbeing of those who dispense it, warning that stressed or burnt-out judicial officers risk undermining court credibility and decision quality.
He cited global studies indicating that over three-quarters of judicial officers worldwide struggle to maintain optimal mental and physical health due to heavy workloads, burnout, and stigma around stress.
Justice Zeija welcomed international efforts to promote judicial wellbeing, referencing the Nauru Declaration and the United Nations resolution designating July 25 as the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing, directing Ugandan Judiciary leadership to observe the day annually.
He also announced steps the Judiciary has taken to institutionalise wellness, including gym facilities at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, introduction of aerobic sessions at court stations, and access to professional, confidential support for judicial officers.
In line with the theme, the conference features a comprehensive medical camp in collaboration with Mulago National Referral Hospital, offering consultations, blood pressure and sugar screening, BMI assessments, abdominal ultrasound scans, liver and kidney tests, and ECG services.
Participants are encouraged to use the services as part of a broader commitment to staff welfare.
Justice Zeija linked judicial wellness to the Judiciary Strategic Plan VI (2025/26–2029/30), which prioritises case management, digital transformation, backlog reduction, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) expansion, staff welfare, and integrity building.
Earlier sessions reviewed judicial performance across the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, while exploring the role of ADR and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) in easing court pressure and improving access to justice.
Later discussions will include insights from the Bar and private sector on ADR’s application in commercial and land disputes, and a regional perspective from Justice Mumba Malila, Chief Justice of Zambia, on judicial leadership, resilience, and reform.
The three-day forum will conclude with strategy sessions and peer exchanges aimed at embedding wellness as a core pillar of effective case management across Uganda’s Judiciary.
