The Principal Judge, Jane Frances Abodo, has called for enhanced accountability, improved efficiency, and stronger coordination among justice sector institutions as Uganda seeks to strengthen the administration of justice and rebuild public trust in the judicial system.
She made the remarks while chairing a Bar-Bench meeting held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala, bringing together representatives from the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Law Council, and other key justice sector stakeholders.
The meeting focused on addressing persistent challenges affecting justice delivery and identifying practical reforms to improve efficiency across courts and allied institutions.
Opening the session, Abodo apologized for the delay in convening the quarterly forum and appreciated stakeholders for attending despite competing national engagements, including the official visit of Zambia’s Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Mumba Malila.
She also congratulated the Chief Registrar, Agnes Alum, on her appointment, emphasizing the importance of the Bar-Bench Forum as a structured platform for dialogue, coordination, and continuous improvement within the justice system.
Abodo underscored that effective justice delivery depends on cooperation between the Bench and the Bar, stressing that communication, professionalism, and shared responsibility are central to ensuring timely and fair outcomes.
“The administration of justice is a shared responsibility. While our roles may differ, we all have one common objective, to ensure that justice is delivered fairly, effectively, and in a manner that inspires public confidence in the institutions we serve,” she said.
She highlighted progress made since the previous forum in September 2025, including the continued rollout of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), expansion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, and ongoing efforts aimed at reducing the backlog of cases across courts.
She commended the ECCMIS technical team led by Justice Immaculate Busingye for advancing the Judiciary’s digital transformation agenda, noting that technology-driven reforms are increasingly central to improving efficiency and transparency in case handling.
Abodo also pointed to the recently concluded Commercial Court Settlement Fortnight as a demonstration of how ADR mechanisms are helping to clear cases faster and ease pressure on the formal court system.
However, she acknowledged that significant challenges persist, including delayed delivery of judgments and rulings, congestion in some court stations, delays in processing court proceedings, and concerns around professionalism and accountability among some justice actors.
She revealed that she had held individual engagements with several judicial officers to follow up on pending judgments, noting that there had been encouraging progress in addressing the backlog.
“It is pointless to continue hearing many cases if judgments are not being delivered. We have seen positive progress, and I am confident that the situation will continue improving,” she said.
Abodo further disclosed that the Industrial Court had temporarily suspended hearings for two months to allow judicial officers to clear a substantial backlog of pending judgments, as part of wider efforts to restore efficiency in case disposal.
She urged stakeholders to adopt a more results-oriented approach, emphasizing that the effectiveness of the Bar-Bench Forum should be measured not by the number of issues discussed but by the extent to which agreed actions are implemented.
“The effectiveness of this forum should not be measured by the number of issues discussed, but by the extent to which agreed actions are implemented and lead to improved service delivery,” she said.
She also cautioned judicial officers and advocates against using social media to resolve professional disputes, urging them to rely on established institutional mechanisms to protect the integrity of the justice system.
Abodo further called for stronger mentorship structures for young advocates, noting that many new entrants to the legal profession require guidance to uphold ethical and professional standards.
In her remarks, Chief Registrar Agnes Alum described the Bar-Bench Forum as a critical platform for dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding between the Judiciary and other justice sector stakeholders.