Pius Bigirimana, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary, has urged Parliament to have confidence in the newly appointed Flavian Zeija as Chief Justice, describing him as a “solid man” despite being new to the position.
“They are being baptised by fire. What do I mean? The Chief Justice and the Principal Judge are new in their positions, so they are facing the challenges as they come, but I am very much hopeful that they will manage to face these challenges,” Bigirimana said.
He commended Chief Justice Zeija’s commitment, legal expertise, and decisiveness, adding: “I know for sure that the new Chief Justice has been in the judicial system for some time. But one thing I know with him is that he is a very committed person, he is fast-footed, he knows the law, so he is not a gambler.”
Bigirimana also expressed confidence in the Principal Judge, pledging continued support to ensure effective justice delivery.
“And the same thing with the Principal Judge, and I am still there for some time, I think. I will support them to make sure that they deliver the needed justice to the people of Uganda,” he said.
Zeija, appointed by President Museveni in January 2026, brings extensive experience in law and academia, having previously served as Deputy Chief Justice and Principal Judge.
His priorities as Chief Justice include improving efficiency, accountability, and access to justice, with a focus on reducing case backlogs and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
