Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has appointed retired Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera to head court-annexed mediation across Uganda’s judiciary, shortly after his official retirement on April 9, 2025, upon turning 70.
The announcement was made during a handover ceremony at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala, where Buteera passed the mantle of Deputy Chief Justice to Flavian Zeija.
Owiny-Dollo, who presided over the event, praised Buteera for his composed leadership and called him a “considerate and principled” judicial officer who helped steer the judiciary through difficult moments.
He revealed that Buteera had been shortlisted for the position of Chief Justice in the same round of interviews that saw Owiny-Dollo appointed, saying Buteera’s automatic consideration as Deputy Chief Justice followed his position as runner-up in the selection process.
In his farewell remarks, Buteera thanked the President, Parliament, the Judiciary’s Permanent Secretary, and his colleagues for the trust and cooperation during his time in office.
He pledged to continue promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which he said offers citizens a more familiar and accessible way of resolving conflicts without going through lengthy court battles.
“ADR is not only time-saving; it brings justice closer to the people,” Buteera said.
He added that he had left behind a strategic plan to expand and institutionalise the use of ADR within the judicial system.
Justice Zeija, now Deputy Chief Justice, commended Buteera for laying the groundwork for ADR.
However, he acknowledged serious challenges in the higher courts, particularly delayed judgments and contradictory rulings.
He criticised the frequent practice of judges reserving decisions “on notice” without indicating when the rulings will be delivered.
“We need to end this culture of uncertainty,” Zeija said.
“People deserve to know when justice will be served.”
Zeija pledged to build on his predecessor’s work and ensure greater efficiency in case handling.
Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo welcomed Zeija into his new role, describing him as “vibrant and hardworking,” and urged him to confront one of the judiciary’s most pressing challenges — a shortage of judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.
He said the growing workload calls for urgent reforms and staffing increases to deliver timely justice.